Houda Benyamina

1.1. Birth and Family

Houda Benyamina was born on November 30, 1980, in Viry-Châtillon, a commune in the Essonne department of Paris, France. Her father is of Moroccan origin, and her mother is of Algerian descent. She has a younger sister, Oulaya Amamra, who is an accomplished actress and notably starred in Benyamina's film Divines.

2.1. Early Activities

Houda Benyamina began her career in 2006, initially focusing on short films. Her early works include Ma poubelle géante (2009), a video project where she served as both director and conceived the original story. She also directed and wrote the short film Sur la route du paradis, which was released in 2011. This film is also known by its English title, On the Road to Paradise, which was released in 2013. These early projects established her as a budding talent in French cinema, showcasing her distinct directorial voice and storytelling abilities.

2.2. Major Work: Divines

Benyamina's feature film directorial debut, Divines, released in 2016, marked a significant milestone in her career. She directed and co-wrote the film, which garnered widespread international recognition. The film's narrative centers on two young women from the Parisian suburbs navigating challenging circumstances, exploring themes of friendship, ambition, and survival. Divines premiered at the 69th Cannes Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim and brought Benyamina to global prominence.

3.1. Cannes Film Festival

At the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, Houda Benyamina was awarded the prestigious Caméra d'Or for Divines. This award is given to the best first feature film presented in one of the Cannes selections (Official Selection, Directors' Fortnight, or International Critics' Week).

3.2. César Awards

Benyamina achieved significant recognition at the 42nd César Awards in 2017, where Divines was honored with the César Award for Best First Feature Film. In addition to this win, she also received nominations for César Award for Best Director and shared a nomination for César Award for Best Original Screenplay for her work on the film.

3.3. Other Film Festival Awards

Beyond Cannes and the César Awards, Divines and Benyamina's direction were recognized at several other international film festivals:

• At the Munich Film Festival, she received the CineVision Award.
• The film earned an Honorable Mention for Best Narrative Feature Film at the Hamptons International Film Festival.
• At the 60th London Film Festival, Divines received a Special Commendation for the Sutherland Award.

4.1. Short Films

4.2. Feature Films