Summary
Algeria’s Minister of Culture and Arts, Malika Bendouda, led two meetings this week to assess and reform the country’s film industry, outlining a roadmap to restore Algerian cinema’s vitality and global presence.
At the sessions held Sunday and Monday, officials presented detailed reports on the state of Algerian cinema, addressing production stagnation and infrastructure gaps. Minister Malika Bendouda called for renewed investment in modern cinema complexes, facilitation of private-sector participation, and better coordination on unfinished cultural projects.
She also directed the creation of a comprehensive plan for operating and reopening public cinema halls, some to be managed by artists’ cooperatives and associations to foster cultural activity nationwide.
Institutions including the National Center for Cinema and Audiovisual and Cinémathèque submitted progress reports, while the minister made immediate decisions to resolve operational issues.
A key focus was the Emir Abdelkader film project, which Bendouda described as an “exceptional cinematic work” celebrating Algeria’s founding figure. She urged accelerated production “to international standards” and pledged full institutional support.
The meetings form part of a national strategy to revive Algeria’s film industry, blending infrastructure reform with projects honoring the country’s history and creative heritage.