Algerian director Mohamed Rahal, filmmaker, writer, president of the Cultural Club Association in Tindouf, and member of the steering committee of the Anna Lindh Foundation, presented his new film “Es-Sahrij” at the Desert Cinema Festival in Sweden on March 29, 2026, where it received significant attention from both audiences and critics alike.
The film tells the tragic story of an incident that took place in Tindouf in 1976, when three municipal workers set out on their daily mission to deliver water to residents in remote desert areas. However, a violent sandstorm obscured their path, causing them to lose their way and unintentionally cross into the Moroccan border area, where they were unjustly arrested by the Moroccan army.
During that period, all contact with them was completely lost, and everyone believed they had died. By pure coincidence and fate, news of them resurfaced years later, leading to their release after spending two decades imprisoned unjustly.
The film focuses on the human dimension and the psychological and social suffering endured by these workers, highlighting the impact of this painful experience on their families and community. It also offers a powerful cinematic vision documenting this rare tragedy through a compelling blend of accurate documentation and creative artistic storytelling.
The film premiered at the Desert Cinema Festival in Sweden and is also expected to be screened soon as part of the European Culture Festival in Lithuania. This initiative aims to shed light on Algerian humanitarian issues and impactful stories while reinforcing the presence of Algerian cinema on the international stage.