OF SHEEPAND MEN

DES MOUTONSET DES HOMMES

A FILM BY KARIM SAYAD

UN FILM DE KARIM SAYAD

Bab el Oued, Algiers, 2016. Men and sheep.

Sixteen-year-old Habib dreams of becoming a veterinarian. Unable to study for his hoped-for profession, he has bought a sheep named El Bouq. His hope? Training the animal to become a fighting champion.

Meanwhile, 42-year-old Samir no longer has any dreams, other than to make enough money by selling sheep that he can survive the hardships of daily life.

SYNOPSIS

With the Eid celebration fast approaching, Samir has a unique oppor-tunity to maximise his profits, as everyone in the country will be buying sheep for slaughter.

But for Habib, it’s another story… Will El Bouq become a champion ? Or will he face a more tragic destiny?

Alger, Bab el Oued, 2016.

Habib, 16 ans, rêve de devenir vétérinaire. Mais alors qu’il a arrêté l’école, il décide d’entraîner un bélier nommé « El Bouq » espérant en faire un champion de combats de moutons.

Samir, 42 ans, n’a plus d’autres rêves que de survivre aux difficultés de son quotidien en vendant des moutons pour gagner un peu d’argent.

SYNOPSIS

Alors que l’Aïd approche et que tout le pays s’apprête à sacrifier un mou-ton, une occasion unique s’offre à Samir d’augmenter ses bénéfices.

Mais pour Habib, c’est une autre histoire. « El Bouq » deviendra-t-il un champion? Ou sera-t-il destiné à une fin plus tragique?

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

« My dream was to become a vet, but I didn’t go to school... I know many people who went for nothing... My only goal is that my sheep wins three fights ». Habib, 16, wants to gain the respect of his neighborhood by training his ram to become a champion.

Samir, 42, prefers selling sheep for slaughter: « In this country, the big fish eats the small one... and if you have nothing like us, you eat your bread and you shut up... On Eid everybody slaughters here. It provides work for people like me. I buy and sell sheep for a profit. ».

OF SHEEP AND MEN portrays the contradictory relationships of these two men toward their animals, through both their deep empa-thy and their capacity to submit them to violent yet codified rituals in 2017 Algeria.

Algeria’s history is tainted by sacrifices and violence. The country’s liberation from colonization came at the price of hundreds of thou-sands of victims. Algeria went through a harsh dictatorship before the country’s first free elections that were immediately cancelled by the army, thus starting a decade of civil war. The stigmas of this history have deeply affected a society governed by authoritarian, corrupt and aging politicians that offer no hope to the vast majority of the population.

OF SHEEP AND MEN sheds light on these sacrificed men by un-derlining the existence of a parallel in between the violence inflicted to both animals and men.

NOTE D’INTENTION DURÉALISATEUR

« Mon rêve était de devenir vétérinaire, mais je ne suis pas allé à l’école... J’en connais beaucoup qui y sont allés pour rien... Mon seul objectif est que mon bélier gagne trois combats.» Habib, 16 ans, veut gagner le respect de son quartier en élevant son mouton à devenir un champion.

Samir, 42 ans, préfère vendre ces derniers pour qu’ils soient sacri-fiés : « Dans ce pays, le gros poisson mange le petit... Et si tu n’as rien comme nous, tu manges ton pain et tu te tais... L’Aïd, tout le monde sacrifie chez nous, et ça fait bosser les gens comme moi. J’achète et revends des moutons pour faire du bénéfice ».

« Des Moutons et des Hommes » raconte la relation contradictoire de Samir et Habib aux moutons qu’ils élèvent à travers l’empathie de ces hommes envers leurs béliers et leur capacité à les soumet-tre à des rituels violents et codifiés dans l’Algérie de 2017.

L’histoire de l’Algérie est faite de sacrifices et de violences. L’Algérie s’est libérée de plus d’un siècle de colonisation au prix de cen-taines de milliers de victimes. Elle a vécu la dictature jusqu’aux premières élections libres du pays, annulées par l’armée, qui plon-gèrent le pays dans dix années de guerre civile. Les stigmates de cette histoire ont durablement affecté un pays gouverné par une classe politique autoritaire, vieillissante et corrompue n’offrant aucune perspective à la majorité de sa population.

« Des Moutons et des Hommes » pose un regard sur ces hommes sacrifiés et place un miroir entre les violences infligées aux mou-tons et celles vécues par leurs maîtres au quotidien.

BIO/FILMOGRAPHY OFTHE DIRECTOR

Karim Sayad was born in Lausanne in 1984 to an Algerian father and a Swiss mother. After completing a MA in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies of Geneva, he decided to become a documentary filmmaker. His first short, “Babor Casanova”, premiered in Locarno in 2016 and was then shown in more than twenty festivals worldwide. It went on winning awards at DocLisboa, Festival Dei Popoli and, among others, the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival.

« Of Sheep and Men » is his first feature documentary.

FESTIVALS

Toronto International Film FestivalWorld Premiere - International CompetitionCanada, september 2017

BIO/FILMOGRAPHIE DURÉALISATEUR

Karim Sayad est né à Lausanne en 1984 d’un père algérien et d’une mère suisse. Après avoir obtenu un Master en Relations Internationales de l’Institut Universitaire des Hautes Etudes Inter-nationales et du Développement de Genève, il décide de s’intéres-ser à la réalisation de films documentaires.

«Babor Casanova», son premier court-métrage, a été projeté en Première Mondiale à Locarno en 2016 et a été depuis lors montré dans plus de vingt festivals et primé dans des festi-vals aussi prestigieux que DocLisboa, Festival Dei Popoli ou le Festival International du Court-métrage de Clermont-Ferrand.

«Des moutons et des hommes» est son premier long-métrage documentaire.

DES MOUTONS ET DES HOMMESSélection en festival

TIFFPremière MondialeCompétition InternationaleCanada, septembre 2017

BABOR CASANOVAQuelques sélections en festival

> Festival du film de Locarno, Pardi di Domani, Suisse> DocLisboa, Portugal Prix SPA International Competition> Festival dei Popoli, Italie Prix For Best Ethno-Anthropological Film> Festival Int. du Court-Métrage de Clermont-Ferrand, France Prix Etudiant de la Jeunesse Compétition Internationale> Festival Int. du Film Oriental – Suisse Prix FIFOG D’OR> Palm Springs Int. Shortfest, USA> BBC Arabic Festival Prix Lilian Landor Award for Best in Journalism

TECHNICALSHEET

Original language : arabicSubtitles available : English and French

Length : 1h18 – 78 minutesFormat : 16/9 - 25ips - 3840x2160 px (UHD)

Production Countries : Suisse, France, Qatar

Screening copy available : DCP, Blu-Ray, ProRes, DVD

ISAN number : 0000-0004-52E4-0000-0-0000-0000-3

CrewDirector : Karim SayadProtagonists : Samir Meflah & Habib HalfayaDirector of Photography : Patrick TreschCamera Assistant : Brahim DerissSound : Hafidh MoulfiDirector Assistant : Mohamed Amine KabbesEditor : Naïma BachiriEditor Assistant : Félix SandriSound Studio : Archipel ProductionsSound Editor : Clément MaléoMixer : Gilles BénardeauColor Corrector : Antoine BaumannDigital Lab : Saprisiti Studio

Production and International salesClose Up Films – Joëlle Bertossa4, rue des Marbriers1204 Geneva - Switerzlandjoelle@closeupfilms.chwww.closeupfilms.ch

CoproductionNorte Productions – Valentina Novati12 Rue Calmels75018 Parisvalentina@norte.frwww.norte.fr

Swiss DistributionSister Distribution - Abel Davoine4, rue des Marbriers1204 Geneva - Switerzlandcontact@sister-distribution.chwww.sister-distribution.ch

FICHETECHNIQUE

Langue originale : arabeSous-titres disponibles : anglais et français

Durée du film : 1h18 – 78 minutesFormat : 16/9 - 25ips - 3840x2160 px (UHD)

Pays de production : Suisse, France, Qatar

Supports de projection : DCP, Blu-Ray, ProRes, DVD

Numéro ISAN : 0000-0004-52E4-0000-0-0000-0000-3

EquipeRéalisateur : Karim SayadProtagonistes : Samir Meflah & Habib HalfayaChef opérateur : Patrick TreschAssistant caméra : Brahim DerissIngénieur du son : Hafidh MoulfiAssistant réalisateur : Mohamed Amine KabbesMonteuse : Naïma BachiriAssistant monteur : Félix SandriStudio son : Archipel ProductionsMontage son : Clément MaléoMixeur : Gilles BénardeauEtalonneur : Antoine BaumannStudio post-production : Saprisiti Studio

Production et ventes internationalesClose Up Films – Joëlle Bertossa4, rue des Marbriers1204 Genève - Suissejoelle@closeupfilms.chwww.closeupfilms.ch

CoproductionNorte Productions – Valentina Novati12 Rue Calmels75018 Parisvalentina@norte.frwww.norte.fr

Distribution suisseSister Distribution - Abel Davoine4, rue des Marbriers1204 Genève - Suissecontact@sister-distribution.chwww.sister-distribution.ch

BIO/FILMOGRAPHYCLOSE UP FILMS

Close Up Films is an independent production company based in Geneva. Not limited by genre, Close Up chooses to get involved with a wide range of projects including fiction, documentaries, TV series and web docs.

Aspiring to reach a wide audience with demanding projects – both in form and content – Close Up works with both promising new talents and confirmed authors.

Questioning society, confronting ideas and expanding viewpoints : this is what the movies we produce aim for !Close Up selects projects with international appeal and works re-gularly with foreign partners.

productions

OF SHEEP AND MEN | DES MOU-TONS ET DES HOMMESDocumentary by Karim Sayad78’ | 2017In coproduction with Norte Production (France)Selections and Awards: Qumra, a Doha Film Institute InitiativeFestivals : TIFF

IN ART WE TRUSTDocumentary by Benoît Rossel 85’ | 2017In coproduction with Zadig Productions (France)Festivals : 52èmes Journées de Soleure, CPH:DOX, FIFA Montreal

TA PEAU SI LISSE | A SKIN SO SOFTDocumentary by Denis Côté90’ | 2017In coproduction with 9338-6223 (Canada) Festivals : Locarno Film Festival

I AM NOT YOUR NEGRODocumentary by Raoul Peck95’ | 2016In coproduction with Velvet Film (France) & Artemis (Belgium)Festivals : Toronto International Film Festival, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Berlinale Panorama, Thes-saloniki Documentary Film Festival, CPH:DOX, Cartagena International Film Festival, Hamptons, Portland...Awards : IDA Creative Recognition Award for Best Writing, Best Docu-mentary @ Philadelphia Film Festival, Grolsch People’s Choice Award @TIFF, 89th Academy Awards Best Docu-mentary Nominee...

LES APPRENTISDocumentary series by Frédéric FloreyTV Broadcast: June 2017 on RTS Un

WILD PLANTS Documentary by Nicolas Humbert 108’ | 2016In coproduction with Leykauf Films (Germany)Festivals : Visions du Réel, DOK.fest München, 52èmes Journées de Soleure,

DocPoint Helsinki,CPH:DOX

PESCATORI DI CORPI | FISHING BODIES Documentary by Michele Pennetta, written with Christian Tarabini 64’ | 2016Festivals : Locarno Film Festival, Camden International Film Festival, Biennial of Art SIART, 52èmes Journées de Soleure

RIO CORGO Documentary by Maya Kosa & Sergio da Costa 95’ | 2015In coproduction with O som e a Fúria (Portugal)Festivals : DocLisboa, Forum Berli-nale, Taiwan, Crossing Europe Film Festival, Iberodocs, Olhar de Cinema Curitiba, Locarno Panorama, Lussas, DOCSDF Mexico City, Doc Buenos Aires, Fidocs...Awards : Liscont Award for Best Doc-umentary @Doclisboa, Best Docu-mentary @Crossing Europe, Premios Sophia 2017: Best Portuguese Docu-mentary Nominee

IN THE SHADOW OF WOMENFeature film by Philippe Garrel73’ | 2015With Clotilde Courau, Stanislas Mer-har & Léna Paugam. In coproduction with SBS Productions (France) & KNMFestivals : Director’s Fortnight, Cannes, Melbourne. Jerusalem, Lo-carno, TIFF, New York, Bergen, Van-couver, Chicago, Rio, Busan Festival du Nouveau Cinéma Montréal, Phila-delphia, European Film Award 2015

BABOR CASANOVADocumentary by Karim Sayad35’ | 2015 Festivals : Locarno Film Festival, Do-cLisboa, Carthage Film Festival, Festi-val Dei Popoli, Clermont-Ferrand Int Short Film Festival, Sapporo Shortfest, Palm Springs Film Festival...Awards : SPA International Competi-tion Jury Award @DocLisboa, “Gian Paolo Paoli Award” for Best Ethno-

Anthropological Film @Festival Dei Popoli, Etudiant de la Jeunesse Award @Clermont-Ferrand...

VOLTA A TERRA | (BE) LONGING Documentary by João Pedro Plácido85’ | 2014In coproduction with O som e a Fúria (Portugal) & Les films de l’air (France)Festivals : Doclisboa, Porto/Post/Doc, Visions du Réel, Trento Film Festival, ACID, Cannes, BFI London Film Fes-tival, Etats généraux du film documen-taire de Lussas, Chicago, Dok Leipzig, Mostra Sao Paulo, Hot Springs Docu-mentary Film Festival...Awards : Liscont Award for Best Por-tuguese Competition Feature-length Film + Schools Award / IADE Award for Best Portuguese Competition Fea-ture-length Film @Doclisboa, Silver Gentian for the Best Artistic Techni-cal Contribution @Trento, Gold Hugo, Documentary Competition @Chicago Int Film Festival...

‘A IUCATA Documentary by Michele Pennetta 38’ | 2013Festivals : Locarno, Festival dei Popoli, DocLisboa, Kasseler Dokfest, 50èmes Journées de Soleure, Entrevues Belfort, Festival du Cinéma de Brive, Rhode Is-land Awards : Pardino d’or @Locarno, Best Mid-Length Film Award @Festival dei PopoliNominated for Best Short Film at the Swiss Film Awards

DEMAIN LE SOLEILShort film by Quentin Tomshire29’ | 2017In coproduction with ECAL/HEAD

AU LARGEShort film by Natalia Ducrey | 26’ | 2017In Coproduction with Avenue B (France)

Film production companyGeneva, Switzerlandwww.cloSeupFilmS.ch

L’ORO DEL DIAVOLODocumentary by Michele PennettaIn coproduction with Kino Produzi-oni (Italy)Selections and Awards: MIA Copro-duction Market @Rome International Film Festival

FOUDREFeature film by Carmen JaquierSelections and Awards : Migros Pour-Cent Culturel Development Grant, Residency @Moulin d’Andé

ROSSETTIFeature film written by Joseph Incar-dona & directed by Joëlle BertossaSelections and Awards: Winner of the SSA Grant 2016

THE SWALLOWS OF KABULAnimation film by Zabou Breitman & Elea Gobbe-MevellecIn coproduction with Les Armateurs (France) & Mélusine Production (Luxemburg)

MILAN NOIRDocumentary by Sergio da Costa & Maya KosaSelections and Awards: Winner of Concours Film documentaire-CH 2015 Pour-cent culturel Migros

NICO Feature film by Halima OuardiriIn coproduction with Eyesteelfilm (Canada)Selections and Awards: Namur Fo-rum, Pitch This! @TIFF, Atelier Grand Nord

SEEKING THE MAN WITH THE CAMERADocumentary by Boutheyna Bousla-maIn coproduction with 24images (France)

L’ILE SANS RIVAGESDocumentary by Caroline Cuénod

Rio Corgo

Babor Casanova

Wild Plants

I Am Not Your Negro

In Art We Trust

Ta peau si lisse

workS in progRess

Close Up Films is an independent production company based in Gene-va, Switzerland. Not limited by gen-re, Close Up Films produces a wide range of projects; including fiction, documentaries, TV series and web projects.

Aspiring to reach a wide audience with demanding projects, both in form and content, Close Up Films works with both young talents and confirmed authors.

Close Up chooses projects with inter-national appeal and works regularly with foreign partners.

ABOUT