Legendary Algerian filmmaker Mohammed Lakhdar Hamina, the first Arab and African director to win the Palme d’Or, has died at age 95, his family confirmed Friday.
Hamina earned global acclaim in 1975 for Chronicle of the Years of Fire, a powerful film depicting Algeria’s fight for independence. The historical drama, which won Cannes’ top prize, remains a landmark in Arab cinema.
Born in 1934 in M’sila, Algeria, Hamina rose from humble beginnings and turned personal tragedy into cinematic storytelling, including the loss of his father during the Algerian War. His 1967 debut, The Winds of the Aures, also earned recognition at Cannes.
Hamina passed away at his home in Algiers, leaving behind a legacy of films centered on Algeria’s resilience, identity, and liberation.
