The Last Queen

Damien Ounouri
Adila Bendimerad

Fiction
2022
Algérie, France, Allemagne
1h50

Adila Bendimerad
Dali Bensaleh
Tarik Bouerara
Amine Mentseur

Algeria, 1516. The pirate Aroudj Barbarossa frees Algiers from the tyranny of the Spanish and seizes power over the kingdom. Rumor has it he murdered King Salim Toumi despite their alliance. Against all odds, one woman will stand up to him: Queen Zaphira. Between history and legend, this woman’s journey tells of a struggle, of personal and political turmoil endured for the sake of Algiers.

Screenplay	Adila Bendimerad Damien Ounouri
Photography	Shadi Chaaban
Sound	Amine Teggar Li Dan-Feng
Set design	Feriel Gasmi Issiakhem
Costumes	Jean-Marc Mireté
Editing	Matthieu Laclau
Original score	Evgueni & Sacha Galperine
Production	Agat Films Patrick Sobelman
Coproduction	Taj Intaj Birth Mec Film
Partners	Aide aux cinémas du Monde (CNC) FDATIC / Ministère de la culture (Algérie) Orange Studio Doha Film Institute (Qatar) / DFI Arab Fund for Arts and Culture / AFAC (Liban) Institut français d'Algérie les ateliers sauvages Racha Promotion Immobilière (Algérie) OGEBC AARC Wilaya d'Alger et Wilaya de Tlemcen Ministère des Affaires religieuses L'Atelier de la Cinéfondation du Festival de Cannes 2018 Bourse CNC d'aide au développement du festival Cinemed lauréat du BCP Cash Award et Premiers Plans Angers Award
Distribution	Jour 2 Fête
International seller	Orange / The Party Film Sales
Video editor	Jour 2 Fête
DVD release	22/08/2023
Awards	Authors under 40 Award - Special Mention / Giornate degli Autori, 2022

Portrait Damien Ounouri © Bertrand Noel

“A gorgeous costume drama with a feisty feminist edge” VARIETY
“A pulsating portrait of a heroine from the past” CINEUROPA

“A brilliantly grounded drama […] an intimate and gorgeously shot period piece” HIGH ON FILMS

“Adila Bendimerad and Damien Ounouri shimmer with potential as dynamic feature filmmakers.”
ICS (INTERNATIONAL CINEPHILE SOCIETY)