Papicha

“Obey, or we’ll take care of you”. In Algiers, in the 1990s, the impact of the war between the government and Islamist groups is spreading to all levels of society. Through the prism of a young woman full of energy (no doubt inspired by her own memories), Mounia Meddour returns to this sombre period in her feature debut, @Papicha@, which seduces for its energy and the charisma of its lead character. It’s a picture of young people caught between two traps (submission or exile), an efficient film that pays homage to the women who persevere in the face of adversity. (Fabien Lemercier, Cineuropa)

Director's Biography
Mounia Meddour: Mounia Meddour was born in Russia in 1978 and raised in Algeria. When she was 18, her family moved to France after receiving death threats during the Algerian Civil War. Mounia studied journalism and film in Paris, where she also joined the summer directing programme at La Fémis. She has directed documentaries and an acclaimed short film, “Edwige“.  Her feature debut, “Papicha”, premiered in Cannes, and won two Césars. Film Selection: Papicha (2019) - Edwige (2016, short) - Cinéma algérien, un nouveau souffle (2011, doc) - La cuisine en héritage (2010, doc)
Crossing Europe Extracts 2020
Mounia Meddour
France / Algeria / Belgium / Qatar 2019
color
105 minutes
Arabic / French
OV with German subtitles
Screenplay Mounia Meddour, Fadette Drouard
Cinematography Léo Lefèvre
Editing Damien Keyeux
Sound/Sounddesign Guilhem Donzel
Music Rob (Robin Coudert)
With Lyna Khoudri, Nadia Kaci, Yasin Houicha, Shirine Boutella, Amira Hilda Douaouda, Marwan Zeghbib, Hiam Abbass
Producer(s) Patrick André, Xavier Gens, Grégoire Gensollen, Belkacem Hadjadj, Mounia Meddour
Production
The Ink Connection, High Sea Productions, Scope Pictures, Tayda Film
World Sales
The Party Film Sales
Trailer
Website
Austrian Premiere
Austrian Rights
Polyfilm
World Premiere
Cannes Film Festival 2019
Verleih in Österreich / Austrian Rights
Polyfilm

Premierenstatus / Premiere Status
Austrian Premiere

Weltpremiere / World Premiere
Cannes Film Festival 2019