20/01/2015 - In February, the shoot will kick off for a feature debut set to be distributed in France by Diaphana and sold abroad by Films Boutique

Director Uda Benyamina

On 19 February in the Paris region, the shoot will get under way for the feature debut by Houda Benyamina, Divines [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Houda Benyamina
film profile]. Having turned heads with her short films Ma poubelle géante (2008) and Sur la route du paradis (in competition at Clermont-Ferrand in 2012, and the winner of awards at Namur, Dubai and Tangier), the filmmaker has assembled a cast including Oulaya Amamra (who made her mark in the mini-series 3 x Manon), Majdouline Idrissi, Déborah Lukumuena and Kévin Mischel, according to Cineuropa’s sources. 

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Written by Romain Compingt (who was on the writing team for Populaire [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
film profile] and was nominated for the Lumière Award for Best Screenplay in 2014 for La Marche [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nabil Ben Yadir
film profile]), Houda Benyamina and Malik Rumeau, the story revolves around 15-year-old Dounia, who lives with her mother on the Les Pyramides estate, where she is known by the nickname “bâtarde” (“Bastard”). She builds up a protective tomboy image for herself and resolves to become a big shot in the neighbourhood. An intense friendship and a passionate love affair will then force her to face up to her contradictions.

Produced by Marc-Benoît Créancier for Easy Tiger (which is now trying its hand at features after having produced around 15 short films), Divines is co-produced and has been pre-purchased by France 2 Cinéma. Having also received backing from the CNC (via the advance on receipts and the Images of Diversity Fund), the CGET (the General Commission for the Equality of Territories), the Centre and Ile-de-France regions, le Groupe Ouest, the Procirep-Angoa, the Doha Film Institute, Dubai Film Connection, the Gan Foundation, and the Cofinova Sofica, the feature will have a nine-week shoot, which is due to wrap on 5 May. Distribution in France will be handled by Diaphana and international sales by German outfit Films Boutique.

(Translated from French)