PART OF MIZNA'S TWIN CITIES ARAB FILM FESTIVAL
Checks and Balances follows journalists from the famous daily Algerian newspaper “El Watan” as they wait for the completion of their new offices, a symbol of their independance. At the same time, Algeria is in the midst of the 2014 presidential election, where incumbent Abdelaziz Bouteflika seeks a fourth term in office. The film captures the events in the newsroom as well as the media coverage of this tense political moment in the country. Ideological differences between reporters become part of the film's narrative, presenting the audience with a look into the process of deciding what counts as news.
Note: All films at the Arab Film Festival will be projected with English subtitles. However, some films do not have trailers with English subtitles. We apologize for this inconvenience.
Director Biography
Malek Bensmaïl was born in Constantine, Algeria and studied film in Paris and Saint Petersburg. He has made several documentaries: Territoire(s) (1996), Vacances Malgré Tout (2001), which won the Prix du Patrimoine de l’Immatériel at Festival Cinéma du Réel, and Aliénations (2004), which won the Prix des bibliothèques at the Festival Cinéma du Réel. In 2009, he directed La Chine est Encore Loin, which was awarded the Special Jury Prize at the Festival des 3 Continents in Nantes.
PRESENTED WITH SUPPORT BY
TWIN CITIES ARAB FILM FESTIVAL
Mizna presents the eleventh Twin Cities Arab Film Festival in partnership with the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul. The Arab Film Fest showcases modern Arab cinema, featuring debut screenings of independent narrative, documentary, and experimental features and shorts.