ALGERIA / Van Damme in “Algeria Pour Toujours 2”

“Algeria Pour Toujours: Les Portes du Soleil”, the first 100% Algerian-produced action and martial arts film, will have a sequel, due to start filming in Oran this April.

Provisionally called “Algeria Pour Toujours: Protocole 33”, the sequel is produced by Zakaria Ramdane, who also plays the lead, and co-directed by Abdelouahab Saifi and Jean-Baptiste Jay. As with its predecessor, made in 2013 and released in Algeria and France in March 2015, the film brings together a very international crew, with “thirty foreign technicians”, according to Zakaria Ramdane. “And we have made sure that each is shadowed by an Algerian, as a training exercise,” he added.

Where the first film had Mike Tyson, Smaïn and Lorie in the cast, the sequel features Belgian actor Jean-Claude Van Damme in “an important role”. Zakaria Ramdane said his intention is to “break preconceptions about Algeria” with the help of stars who are “good communication channels for changing Algeria’s image internationally.”

After Oran, filming will move to Algiers, Ilizi, Bechar, Paris and Dubai. The film should be released at the end of this year, with an expected distribution in some thirty countries. The idea of outdoor screenings across Algeria is also being considered “to provide all Algerians with access to the cinema.”

Sources : El Watan, Allociné