Authorities aim to revitalise Algerian cinema

2007-11-11

Algeria's cinema industry is in decline, with few theatres still in operation. The Ministry of Culture is now trying to restore some of the lustre to Algeria's "seventh art".

By Mouna Sadek for Magharebia in Algiers – 11/11/07

[Getty Images] Culture Minister Khalida Toumi unveiled plans to bolster oversight of the film industry

According to industry professionals, cinema in Algeria is dying. Buildings and memories have both been ravaged by decay and many cinemas have been replaced by night clubs, meeting halls and fast food restaurants.

There are now fewer than ten functioning cinemas in the capital, and according to local resident Salaheddine, "Those cinemas which have kept their doors open have become the favoured haunts of young couples desiring privacy. It is difficult, even embarrassing, to try to follow a film under these conditions."

Now in his forties, Salaheddine looks back fondly to the time when the "Africa" cinema, in the heart of Algiers, was the place to meet film-lovers. "Today, 35mm films have given way to video projection," he said sadly.

After independence, Algeria had 450 cinemas throughout the country. Then-President Ahmed Ben Bella nationalised the cinemas in decree 67-53 on August 19th, 1964. The cinemas were then handed over to the National Film Centre (CNC), and Algerian cinema began its golden age with rich, top-flight productions, plus the import of more than a hundred films per year.

The CNC was dissolved in 1967, and gave way to the new National Office for the Film Industry and Commerce (ONCI). By the early 1980s, the ONCI had sold more than 250 cinemas to private management companies, and a lack of regulation brought about a general decline. New owners then took advantage of the chaos of the 1990s to steer the cinemas away from their original purpose.

A number of film professionals have tried to raise the alarm; the Lumière Association has worked tirelessly to combat piracy and illegal video, but with little success. Its major achievement has been the rescue of film equipment from bankrupt companies.

Culture Minister Khalida Toumi declared at a press conference on October 20th that she had presented the government with a "clear and objective" assessment of the situation and proposed strategies to revitalise film production in the country. She also proposed a re-organisation of the entire film industry, including tighter regulations on finance, production, professional organisation, distribution and cinema operation.

Toumi said that under the new law, the National Centre for Film and Audiovisual Arts (CNCA), which was established in 2004, will conduct a certain amount of that oversight. She said the CNCA should receive enough material and human resources to play this role; the ministry has requested a budget of 8.5 billion dinars to protect cultural heritage through 2009, and 19.5 billion more for 2009-2014.

The Ministry of Culture also aims to restore ailing cinemas. Under a special programme launched last year to develop the country's southern regions, eight have already been rescued. The Ministry of Culture ultimately hopes to return theatres to private managers, provided they adhere to guidelines drawn up by the CNCA and that they contribute a portion of box office proceeds to support audiovisual production.