Amazigh short film, “Axxam yargha, maqar anesahmu” (The house is burning, might as well get warm) has been selected to represent the Amazigh cinema for the first time in history at the prestigious Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight taking place from 16 to 27 May, 2023.
Despite the lack of equipment, the film directed by Mouloud Ait Liotna, was entirely shot in the region of Ait Melikech in the city of Bejaïa by a young talented film crew mainly native from the town and surrounding Amazigh regions as well as the acting roles, featuring Mehdi Ramdani, Mohamed Lefkir, Mustapha Rais, Idir Benaibouche, Koceila Mahfoud Alias Koukou and many other young talents. Film is produced by Alpha-Tango, and co-produced by “L’œil vive” and “Avant la nuit”.
Some 4,000 films were viewed (including short films) which show a “return in force of Asia, the United States and some African proposals,” Thierry Fremaux, the delegate general of the Cannes Film Festival said.
As for the synopsis, “Axxam yargha, maqar anesahmu” tells the story of Yanis, a young Kabyle, leaves tomorrow for Paris. Only, the sudden death of a loved one disturbs his last hours in the village and drags him into a strange day where the bitterness of leaving is tempered by sorrow.
