Ghardaïa – Imad Helali, the creative filmmaker from the Ghardaïa region, has emerged as one of Algeria’s most distinctive artistic voices in the realm of short films, dedicating his craft to producing purposeful awareness-driven content designed to deliver strong social messages to his audience.
Recently, Helali earned third place for Best Concept at the 5th edition of the International Festival of Awareness Videos (FIVS) in Sousse, Tunisia, for his short film “Herfa” (“Craft”). The film is inspired by the local proverb “Wealth may perish, but the craft of the hands endures,” and showcases the value of craftsmanship in sustaining the local economy and combating unemployment. Actor Mohamed Berka took on the leading role alongside Jaafar Mohamed, who played the role of the grandfather, highlighting the film’s focus on intergenerational transmission of skills and values.
Through this production, Helali also sought to shed light on the richness of traditional handicrafts and their role in promoting Saharan tourism, presenting them as a heritage treasure that contributes to Algeria’s cultural and economic vitality.
Speaking to APS, the 54-year-old filmmaker explained that his passion for art began in childhood with a fascination for visual arts and comics, where he created sketches that reflected social realities, many of which earned recognition in provincial contests. His first short film, “The Return” (2021), filmed in Metlili’s El-Hadhour area, won the Grand Audience Award at an international festival in Algiers. In 2023, he directed “Mona”, a touching film addressing school bullying and its harmful impact on students, particularly young girls.
Helali has also directed other audiovisual works, including the short series “Colors of the Lantern”, starring actress Manal Merabet, broadcast on several Algerian TV channels.
Committed to strengthening Algeria’s cinema industry, Helali continues to call for greater encouragement and support for young filmmakers. He advocates for the seventh art as a fertile ground for creativity, innovation, and cultural investment, positioning Algerian cinema as a driver of both artistic excellence and national identity preservation.
