Algerian Actor Idir Benaibouche Wins Best African Actor at Septimius Awards

Algerian actor and comedian Idir Benaibouche won the Best African Actor award at the Septimius Awards in Amsterdam for his role in Merzak Allouache's film Première ligne.

The prestigious ceremony took place at the Tuschinski Theater in the Netherlands, where Benaibouche was honored for his outstanding performance. After his notable role as Lounes Larimi in Allouache’s previous feature Dernière ligne, this award marks a major milestone in his career.

The Septimius Awards, organized by Cyrus & Dreamers Inc., recognize achievements in international cinema across feature films, documentaries, short films, animations, television series, and screenplays. Categories include Best Actor and Actress by region (Africa, Europe, North America), Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Animated Film.

Merzak Allouache’s Première ligne (Front Row)—an Algerian-French-Saudi co-production—premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year. The 86-minute film tells the story of the Bouderbala family during a day at El Djemila beach. Their tranquility is disrupted by the arrival of the Kadouri family, sparking humorous yet tense clashes between matriarchs Zohra Bouderbala and Safia Kadouri, set against a backdrop of teenage romance.

Idir Benaibouche, a graduate of the Higher Institute of Performing Arts and Audiovisual Arts in Bordj El Kiffan, began his career in the 2010s performing Nicolas Gogol’s monologue Diary of a Madman. He went on to appear in numerous theater productions before transitioning to film and television, where he is now recognized as one of Algeria’s most promising actors.