Bachir Derrais, director of the feature film “Ben M’Hidi” told an interviewer for the Algerian newspaper L’Expression “either I make it the way films should be made or I stop!”
The director was sounding the alarm about the lack of funding which was preventing him shooting his film about Mujahid Larbi Ben M’Hidi, a major leader in the Algerian war for independence (1954-1962). The shooting has indeed only been 80% financed (among other things, as a result of the weakening dinar).
Derrais is currently negotiating with partners such as Aarc, the Centre de recherche des moudjahidines and the minister of culture: “I refuse to do a rushed job,” he told journalists from L’Expression when they asked about his partners’ reaction. “People are being forced to make films in appalling conditions. Small films, without any interest, without ambition,” he added.
Derrais Bashir also complained about the way American directors are treated differently from local film-makers. He was forced to suspend shooting while he waits for the remaining 20% of the budget to be released.
Source: L’Expression
