Kaouther Ben Hania
Kaouther Ben Hania was born in Sidi Bouzid (Tunisia) and studied cinema in Tunis (EDAC) and in Paris (la Fémis and la Sorbonne). She has a Research Masters in Film and Audiovisual Studies from the Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris 3. Challat of Tunis Kaouther’s first feature film, opened ACID section at Cannes Film Festival 2014. Her feature documentary Zaineb Hates the Snow premiered in Locarno 2016, won Golden Tanit in Carthage Film Festival and participated in many festivals like Hot Docs, DIFF, Cinemed. Beauty and the Dogs started a brilliant career in Cannes Film Festival «Un Certain Regard» 2017 receiving the award for Best Sound Creation. Afterwards the film has been selected in several festivals and distributed in more than 20 countries. The Man Who Sold his Skin won during its premiere best Actor award in Venice Orizzonti competition and the award for best Arabic film at El Gouna film festival 2020 and was among the nominees for the Oscars 2021. Les Filles d'Olfa – Four Daughters ran in competition at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Œil d'or for best documentary.
Filmography
2023 LES FILLES D'OLFA – FOUR DAUGHTERS
2020 THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN
2017 BEAUTY AND THE DOGS
2016 ZAINEB HATES THE SNOW (doc)
2014 CHALLAT OF TUNIS
2013 WOODEN HAND (short)
2010 IMAMS GO TO SCHOOL (doc)
2006 ME, MY SISTER AND THE THING (short)
Les filles d'Olfa - Four Daughters (2023)
The life of Olfa, a Tunisian woman and mother of 4 daughters, oscillates between light and shadow. One day, her two eldest daughters disappear. To fill their absence, director Kaouther Ben Hania calls upon professional actors and sets up an extraordinary film mechanism to unveil the story of Olfa and her daughters. An intimate journey full of hope, rebellion, violence, intergenerational transmission and sisterhood, which will question the very foundation of our societies. More
The Man Who Sold His Skin (2020)
Sam Ali, a young sensitive and impulsive Syrian, left his country for Lebanon to escape the war. To be able to travel to Europe and live with the love of his life, he accepts to have his back tattooed by one of by the World’s most sulfurous contemporary artist. Turning his own body into a prestigious piece of art, Sam will however come to realize that his decision might actually mean anything but freedom. More
La Belle et la Meute (2017)
During a student party, Mariam, a young Tunisian woman, meets the mysterious Youssef and leaves with him. A long night will begin, during which she’ll have to fight for her rights and her dignity. But how can Justice be made when it lies on the side of the tormentors? More
Le challat de Tunis (2014)
Tunisia, before the revolution. A man on a motorbike, razor blade in hand, prowls the streets of Tunis slashing women's buttocks. They call him The Challat, aka "The Blade", and the mere mention of his name provokes fascination and terror. Is he a lone criminal, an urban legend, or could he be the creation of a political group or religious fanatics? 10 years later, in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, a stubborn young female director sets out on an investigation to unravel the mystery and discover the true Challat of Tunis. More
