A Glance at Cannes: Yamina Benguigui (Cinema and Diversity)

Under the theme "Cinema and Diversity" this year's Cinémas du Monde Pavillon/Cinemas of the World Pavilion at Cannes has planned several events on 14 May "Diversity Day", including a press conference and the screening of short films about diversity. TV5Monde, the French Institute and Yamina Benguigui will be present at the "Republic and Diversity" Think (and Do) Tank, an initiative that has as its goal to both reflect and take action on issues as it relates to diversity in France.

Franco-Algerian Yamina Benguigui, director, producer, and writer, has been at the forefront of  diversity initiatives in France and since 2008 is the Assistant to the Mayor of Paris on Human Rights and Issues Regarding Discrimination. She is also the President of the Jury for the DiaspAura Award. A prize initiated in 2010 to recognize the accomplishments of people of the diasporas around the world.

Yamina Benguigui (SOS Racisme)

A politically committed filmmaker, Yamina Benguigui has always considered filmmaking as an indispensable tool for raising consciousness and changing attitudes towards diversity. From this commitment she uses her fiction and documentary films to underscore the importance for those of immigrant origin to know their common history, particularly those from the Maghreb. As this history is often hidden, misunderstood, viewed as taboo by their parents and the host society, it is important to make it visible, to humanize it. To know one's past is the fundamental vehicle to restoring a diminished identity and moving forward together in society. Because she brings these societal issues to the screen for debate, each of her films are transformed into a film-tool to accompany her public presentations in order to facilitate free discussion and challenge public officials to action. (Yamina Benguigui Website Biography - translated from French to English by Beti Ellerson)