Yanis Koussim began his career by directing short films, including KHTI and KHOUYA, the latter of which earned recognition on the festival circuit and marked him as part of a new wave of independent Algerian filmmakers. He expanded his work into television and feature development, writing projects such as CASBAH CITY and ALGER BY NIGHT, while continuing to refine a cinematic voice rooted in Algeria’s social and political realities. Across his work, Koussim combines genre experimentation with deeply personal themes, using horror and realism alike to explore the lingering impact of violence, memory, and collective trauma in contemporary Algeria.
ROQIA: Koussim’s debut feature is a psychological horror that draws on the trauma of Algeria’s civil war. The film premiered at the 82nd Biennale’s Critics’ Week before winning Best Director at Thessaloniki, a Jury Award at Leeds, and a Jury Special Mention at Bordeaux.
