Yamina Benguigui facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yamina Benguigui
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Yamina Benguigui in 2009
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| Born |
Yamina Zora Belaïdi
9 April 1955 |
| Occupation | film director and politician |
Yamina Benguigui (born Yamina Zora Belaïdi on April 9, 1955, in Lille, France) is a French film director and politician. She is known for making films about the lives of North African immigrants in France. These films often explore topics like gender roles and the challenges faced by people from countries like Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia who have moved to France. Through her work, Yamina Benguigui has helped share the stories of many people from the Maghrebi community in France.
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About Yamina Benguigui's Life
Yamina Benguigui's parents were from Algeria. They moved to France in the early 1950s. Yamina was the oldest of six children and grew up in northern France. She has said that she was a quiet child and was raised in the Islamic tradition. When she was only 13 years old, she decided she wanted to become a filmmaker.
Her father was a political leader in the Algerian National Movement. He was held in prison in France for three years because of his political beliefs. Yamina Benguigui did not have contact with her father for a long time because he did not support her choice to become a filmmaker. They reconnected in 2001. After Yamina left home, her mother and father also divorced. Yamina Benguigui is married and has two daughters.
Her Career in Filmmaking
Yamina Benguigui studied at film school after finishing her baccalaureate. She later worked with French director Jean-Daniel Pollet. She also started her own company called "Bandit Productions" with director Rachid Bouchareb.
While she has made feature films and short films, Yamina Benguigui is most famous for her documentaries. Many of these were released in the 1990s. She uses her films to help people understand each other better. Her movies often highlight social issues and the difficulties immigrants face in France.
In 1994, her documentary Femmes d'Islam was shown on France 2. After this, she decided to focus on the immigrant experience in France.
Her next documentary was Mémoires d'immigrés, l'héritage maghrébin. This film involved 350 interviews with immigrants across France. It took two years to prepare and nine months to edit. It was first shown in May 1997 on Canal+. The film received good reviews and was later shown in movie theaters.
In 2001, Benguigui made Inch’Allah dimanche. This film looks closely at the role of gender within a family, especially for a young woman named Zouina. Earlier films often showed Algerian women as less important characters. Benguigui used her film to show these women as strong and complex. Zouina, for example, tries to find her own identity outside of strict family rules.
In 2021, she released a film called Soeurs with actress Isabelle Adjani. This movie tells the story of three sisters of Algerian background living in France. Their lives change due to events like their father's illness and death.
Selected Films by Yamina Benguigui
- 1994: Femmes d'Islam
- 1997: Mémoires d'immigrés, l'héritage maghrébin (Immigrant Memories)
- 2001: Inch'Allah Dimanche (Inch'Allah Sunday)
- 2004: Le Plafond de verre (The Glass Ceiling)
- 2021: Soeurs
Her Career in Politics
In March 2008, Yamina Benguigui was elected to the Paris city council. She represented the 20th arrondissement of Paris. In this role, she focused on human rights and fighting against unfair treatment. She is connected with the Socialist Party.
On May 16, 2012, the President of France, François Hollande, appointed her to a new job. She became the Junior Minister for French Nationals Abroad and Relations with La Francophonie. This role involved working with French-speaking countries around the world.
On June 21, 2012, Yamina Benguigui was confirmed as the Minister for La Francophonie in the French Government. Later, on June 30, 2012, President Hollande asked her to be his special representative for the OIF (International Organisation of La Francophonie).
Awards and Recognition
Yamina Benguigui has received several awards for her work.
Awards for Mémoires d'immigrés, l'héritage maghrébin
- Festival International de Programmes Audiovisuels, Michel Mitrani prize
- San Francisco International Film Festival, Golden Gate Award
- 7 d'Or, Best Documentary (1997)
Awards for Inch'Allah Dimanche
- Amiens International Film Festival, OCIC Award and Prize of the City of Amiens (2001)
- Bordeaux International Festival of Women in Cinema, Audience Award and Golden Wave (2001)
- Cairo International Film Festival, Golden Pyramid (2001)
- International Film Festival of Marrakech, Golden Star (2001)
- Toronto International Film Festival, International Critics' Award (FIPRESCI) (2001)
Special Honours
- 2002: Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters)
- 2003: Knight of the Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur (National Order of the Legion of Honour)
- 2003: Il Sigillo della Pace Prize in Florence, for her achievements over her career.
- 2007: Officer of the National Order of Merit
See also
In Spanish: Yamina Benguigui para niños
