Tell us a bit about yourself - all the basics! Where you’re from, where you grew up, interests, hobbies, siblings, causes you’re passionate about, anything else that comes to mind…

I am an Algerian filmmaker currently based in Montreal. My journey began in London, where I was born, but I was raised in Algeria in a household where music was the heartbeat of our daily lives. My brother is a musician, and that shared upbringing deeply influenced my creative path. Beyond filmmaking, I am a lover of all art forms, specifically those that challenge social norms and preserve cultural heritage.

How did you become interested in film?

My first feature documentary « The desert rocker » was about an artist who broke centuries of patriarchy by becoming the first woman to play Gnawa music, a tradition historically reserved for men. Before making the film, I actually produced her as an artist. That close relationship, and witnessing her journey, naturally led me to film as a way to tell stories I deeply care about.

How did you arrive at the subject of your Close Up project?

Because music has always been central to my life, I was haunted for years by the voice of Salim Halali, an Algerian artist with an extraordinary destiny. I became obsessed with his music and his story, and eventually decided to make a film about this musical encounter, one that quite literally changed my life.

If you weren’t a filmmaker, what might you be? What did you want to do or be growing up?

I would probably be an artist in another field. I don’t think I can live without art in my life.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Trust your intuition and listen closely to your inner voice, it knows the way before your mind does.

Other than documentaries of course, what’s your favorite film genre and why?

While I am a documentary filmmaker, I am deeply drawn to fiction and experimental cinema. I especially love films that use music as a narrative engine rather than just a background score; I find the intersection of abstract visuals and sound incredibly evocative.

What has influenced your work as a filmmaker the most? A person, an educator, another filmmaker, a film itself, an experience, etc.?

Malik Benjelloul’s Searching for Sugar Man had a profound impact on me. You can feel his pure, raw passion for the subject in every frame. It taught me that a film is at its best when the director’s connection to the artist is palpable and sincere.

If you could have coffee with any filmmaker, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Malik Benjelloul. I’d love to discuss his process of uncovering hidden legacies and how he maintained such a beautiful sense of wonder throughout his storytelling.

Is there an anecdote about your project you’d like to share ?

There is a spiritual dimension to this project. Sometimes, when the pieces fall into place perfectly, I feel as though Salim Halali is co-directing the film from the other side, guiding me toward the stories he wants told.

What accomplishment thus far are you most proud of?