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CHECKS & BALANCES

by Malek Bensmaïl

synopsis

Accommodated since Algeria's Bloody Decade of the 1990’s in the "House of the Press", the journalists of the famous daily newspaper El Watan await the completion of their new offices, a symbol of their independence.

My camera is embedded in their newsroom as they follow the events of this new Algerian spring… President Bouteflika has set his sights on a 4th term.

Beyond what we call the Arab revolutions and other mediatized terms, I wanted this film to serve as a memorial to the women and men, young and less young, who battle daily to safeguard the freedom of information in a politically and socially fossilized country.

international title: Checks & Balances
original title: Contre-pouvoirs
country: Algeria, France
year: 2015
genre: documentary
directed by: Malek Bensmaïl
film run: 97'
release date: FR 27/01/2016
screenplay: Malek Bensmaïl
film editing: Matthieu Bretaud
music: Phil Marboeuf, Camel Zekri
producer: Hachemi Zertal, Malek Bensmaïl
co-producer: Gérald Collas, Yann Brolli
production: Hikayet Films (DZ), Thala Films (DZ), Magnolias Films (FR)
backing: Fonds Bertha IDFA, AFAC

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