Tahar Kessi

Tahar Kessi is an Algerian filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist known for documentary and experimental cinema. Born in Bouzeguène, Kabylia, in 1986, he first studied physics in Algeria before pursuing modern literature in Poitiers, France. He later trained in documentary filmmaking at the prestigious La Fémis film school in Paris.

Throughout his career, Kessi has worked in several filmmaking roles, including director, cinematographer, editor, sound engineer, assistant director, and actor. Beyond cinema, he has written for literary, political, and philosophical journals and has led artistic projects in healthcare institutions, detention centers, and autism-related initiatives.

His first feature-length documentary, Amsevrid (The Outlandish), released in 2024, is a poetic exploration of Algeria's history, memory, and identity through three interconnected narratives set across different periods. The film received international festival recognition and established him as one of the emerging voices in North African documentary filmmaking.