TWELVE-MONTH HIGHLIGHT(S):
Cinetelefilms' projects found a lot of success on the funding trail in 2023, with Rani
Massalha’s drama THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON winning the top $100,000 Production Award at the Red Sea Souk and
Mehdi Barsaoui's Aïcha winning DFI's production grant in addition to a €150,000 co-production fund from Eurimages.
The company was also a co-producer on Kaouther Ben Hania’s FOUR DAUGHTERS, and it recently concluded post-production
on A BIRD FROM PARADISE - a remake of MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING with a Tunisian-Italian flavor by Mourad Ben Cheikh.
HABIB ATTIA
Managing Director of CineteleFilms
Tunisian
CAREER HIGHLIGHT(S):
Since 2007, Attia has been the manager of Cinetelefilms, one of Tunisia's
most active production companies since its creation in 1983. Habib Attia has produced most of Kaouther
Ben Hania’s films: LE CHALLAT DE TUNIS (2013), ZAINEB HATES THE SNOW (2016), BEAUTY AND THE
DOGS (2017), THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN, and the César winner FOUR DAUGHTERS.
He is also a producer on Lotfy Nathan’s HARKA, Hinde Boujemaa’s IT WAS BETTER TOMORROW, Rashid
Masharawi's PALESTINE STEREO, and Mourad Ben Cheikh's NO MORE FEAR.
What's the best advice you have ever been given - or given to others?
The best advice given to me (by my father, the late Ahmed Bahaeddine Attia): If you make a film that is not successful, you will regret it for a while, but if you refuse to make a film that is successful afterward, you risk regretting it for the rest of your life.
What has been your biggest setback/hurdle?
Obsolete laws, ignorance, and bureaucracy of institutions dealing with the cinema industry.
What is the biggest misunderstanding about the Arab World and/or its entertainment industry?
Stereotypical expectations.
What will have the greatest game-changing effect on Arab cinema?
All Arab films becoming available across the Arab World instead of just in their home countries.
How do you recognize real talent?
Social intelligence!
