The Last Queen
Spring Grants 2018 - Production Stage

Damien Ounouri / Feature Narrative / Algeria, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia / 2022 / 105 min / Original Language: Arabic / Interests: Historical Drama
Synopsis
It is the year 1516. Algiers is a small Arabian-Berber republic, suffocated by the Spaniards, who have had control of the harbour for six years. King Salim Toumi allies with the pirate Aroudj Barberousse in order to free the city. After their victory, Salim is assassinated in his bathtub. Barberousse becomes the new ruler of Algiers, and is confronted with a rebellion. Both history and legend tell that Salim Toumi, the last King of Algiers, had a wife named Zaphira, and that Aroudj Barberousse desired her, famously saying “I will take his palace, and I will mount his horse and his wife.”
Credits
- Director
- Damien Ounouri
- Screenwriter
- Damien Ounouri, Adila Bendimerad
- Producer
- Adila Bendimerad
- Production Company
- Taj Intaj
About the Director

Born in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Damien Ounouri is an Algerian-French director based in Algiers. He studied cinema theory, developing its practical application as a self-taught skill. His documentary FIDAI (2012), co-produced by the acclaimed Chinese director Jia Zhang-Ke, had its premiere at the Toronto TIFF and was shown in cinemas throughout France. His medium-length film ‘Kindil El Bahr’ (2016) had its premiere at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and was broadcast on ARTE. He also directs video-clips and commercials, teaches at cinematographic workshops, and is associate producer for Taj Intaj (Algeria). ‘The Last Queen’ is his first full-length feature film.
Contacts
-
Main Contact
Damien Ounouri
- Company:
- Taj Intaj
- Phone:
- +213555374947 / +213552770781
- Email:
- nemrafilms@gmail.com