Honey Cigar

Directed by
Kamir Aïnouz

Status . Completed

Country . France, Algeria

Original Title  . Cigare au Miel
Year . 2020
Language  . French, Berber
Domestic Release . Paname Distribution
Genre . Coming of Age
Runtime . 100

Status . Completed

Country . France, Algeria

Original Title  . Cigare au Miel
Year . 2020
Language  . French, Berber
Domestic Release . Paname Distribution
Genre . Coming of Age
Runtime . 100

Request Screener Presskit Trailer

Paris, 1993.

Selma, 17, lives in a bourgeois and secular Berber family. When she meets and is strongly attracted to Julien, a dashing young man, she realizes for the first time the heavy rules of her patriarchal family and how they affect her intimacy.

As Islamism takes over her country of origin and her family crumbles, Selma discovers the power of her own desire. She must resist and fight. Through the strength of her people, she starts walking down the path of what it means to become a free woman.

DIRECTOR

Born in Paris of Algerian parents, Kamir Aïnouz lived seven years in Los Angeles where she studied film writing at UCLA and participated in various filmmaking workshops at USCSchool of Cinematic Arts. Sister of renowned Brazilian-Algerian director Karim Aïnouz, Kamir has been developing original content inspired by her dual Algerian and French culture.

She has also worked as a screenwriter for cinema and television, notably on “Lol USA” by Lisa Azuelos.

Honey Cigar is her directorial debut. Her original script was selected at the Rawi Screenwriters Lab with the Sundance Institute and awarded the Fondation Beaumarchais-SACD cinema grant.

CAST & CREW

CAST

Zoé Adjani
Amira Casar (At Eternity’s Gate, Call me by your Name)
Lyes Salem (Abou Leila, The Man from Oran)
Louis Peres (How I Became a Super Hero)

PRODUCERS
Christine Rouxel (Houba! On the Trail of the Marsupilami, Babies)
Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar (Heaven Will Wait, Once in a Lifetime)

Coproduced by Luc et Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Delphine Tomson, Dany Boon, Malek Ali Yahia

DOP

Jeanne Lapoirie

EDITOR

Albertine Lastera

FESTIVALS AND AWARDS

VENICE GIORNATE DEGLI AUTORI - OPENING FILM

TOFIFEST

THESSALONIKI IFF

SEVILLE EUROPEAN FF

CINEUROPA IFF

HELSINKI IFF

NEW ZEALAND

SYDNEY IFF

TUBINGEN IFF

CINEMANIA

MINSK IFF

LEEDS IFF

MIAMI IFF

MOSCOW IFF

JEONJU IFF

TOFIFEST

AMMAN IFF (Best Arab Feature Length)

“In the headstrong Selma, viewers may
see shades of Lady Bird. In the plight of a
young woman seeking liberation, Mustang
might also spring to mind. Honey Cigar
should earn a continued audience.”

“Adjani is
impressively
natural.”