Jean Sénac, The Blacksmith of the Sun

Ali Akika, born February 15, 1945 in Jijel, Algeria, is an Algerian director, screenwriter, producer and film critic. He has lived in France since 1965, first studying political economy at university and then becoming a teacher. Also a film critic, he collaborates with various film magazines (under the name Ali Mocki, he notably published several articles on Algerian cinema in Cahiers du cinéma in 1973-75). By directing, with five other members of the “Cinéma-Vincennes” group, “L’Olivier: Who Are the Palestinians?”, he combines humanist utopia with political testimony, listening to immediate history. He will then direct several short films and then documentaries which provide an overview of the living conditions of immigrants and the prevailing racism as well as the countries of the South. • 1975: L’Olivier (feature documentary film awarded at the 1978 Carthage festival), collective film • 1978 : Voyage En Capital (feature film, fiction), co-written, co-directed and co-produced with Anne-Marie Autissier • 1980: Larmes De Sang (feature film, documentary), co-written, co-directed and co-produced with Anne-Marie Autissier • 1981: Iran A Spring In Winter (feature film, documentary) • 1986: Shiwana Namibia (people of Namibia) (medium-length film, documentary) • 1995: Algeria Unveiled (medium length film, awarded at the Montreal festival) • 1996: Les Laboreurs De La Mémoire (medium length film, documentary) • 2000: Children of October 61 (mid-length film, on the massacre of Algerians on October 17, 1961) • 2003: Jean Sénac, Le Forgeron Du Soleil (medium length film, documentary) • 2008: Isabelle Eberhardt Ou La Fièvre De L'Errance, 52 min, documentary on the legendary writer of Russian origin who lived in Algeria in El Oued via Algiers, Béchar, Kénadza and finally in Aïn Séfra where she is buried .