New law on cinema divides professionals and observers

ALGIERS-Between the demand of an “essential” return of the state-manager and criticisms on its character felt somehow “punitive,” specialists and professionals are not unanimously in favour the new law on cinema.

As a whole, many 7th art experts believe that the new legislation, adopted at the end of the year, gives the state the instruments of a “centralization” of production and operation on films, which would lead inevitably to an “increased public control” on the film industry.

To director Ahmed Rachedi, advocating a return to the state-manager, it is the absence of the state and its disengagement from the sector in recent decades that is behind the decline of Algerian cinema.

He added that “things were going well when ran” cinematographic industry during the 60 and 70s.