Sami Bouajila (born 26 May 1966)[1] is a Tunisian-French actor who has won two César Awards. Bouajila has worked and acted in two Oscar nominated films (Days of Glory and Outside the Law), both directed by director Rachid Bouchareb.

Sami Bouajila
Bouajila in 2012
Born (1966-05-26) 26 May 1966 (age 58)
La Tronche, France
Alma materConservatoire de Grenoble
OccupationActor
Websitesamibouajila.com

Early life

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Bouajila's father emigrated from Tunisia to France in 1956, and worked as a building painter, a professionally recognized skill requiring specific technical knowledge. His grandfather was a Berber and immigrated to Tunisia. Bouajila was born and grew up in Échirolles, a suburb south of Grenoble. He studied theatre.

Political views

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In June 2024, Bouajila signed a petition addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron demanding France to officially recognize the State of Palestine.[2]

Filmography

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Sami Bouajila at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009.

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1991 La Thune Kamel
1993 Les Histoires d'amour finissent mal... en général Slim Touati
1993 The Hour of the Pig Mahmoud
1994 The Silences of the Palace Lofti
1995 Bye-Bye Ismaël
1996 Anna Oz Marc
1997 Artemisia Tassi's assistant
1997 Le Déménagement Jean
1997 Né quelque part Driss Bourafia
1998 The Siege Samir Nazhde
1999 Inséparables Boris
1999 La Peur du vide
1999 Our Happy Lives Ali
2000 Douce France
2000 Drôle de Félix Félix
2000 Faites comme si je n'étais pas là Tom
2000 Poetical Refugee Jallel
2000 Nouvelle de la tour L Dealer
2001 Change moi ma vie Fidel
2001 Replay Nicolas
2002 Embrassez qui vous voudrez Kévin
2002 The Nest Selim
2002 Vivre me tue Paul Smaïl
2003 La Légende de Parva Agni Voice
2003 Playing 'In the Company of Men' Léonard
2003 Pas si grave Charlie
2005 Avant l'oubli Augustin Burger
2005 Zaïna, cavalière de l'Atlas Mustapha
2006 Days of Glory Abdel Kader
2006 Le Concile de pierre Lucas
2007 24 mesures Chris
2007 Le Dernier gang Casa
2007 The Witnesses Mehdi
2009 The Whistler Karim Chaouche
2009 London River Imam
2009 Bitter Victory Yacine Guesmila
2009 Le Premier Cercle Saunier
2010 De vrais mensonges Jean
2010 Outside the Law Abdelkader
2011 Omar Killed Me Omar Raddad
2011 Carré blanc Philippe
2014 Patchwork Family Christian
2014 Divin Enfant Jean
2015 Braqueurs Yanis Zeri
2015 A Stormy Summer Night Nabil
2015 Good Luck Algeria Sam
2016 Pattaya Krimo's father
2016 Scribe Labarthe
2017 The Blessed Samir
2018 Through the Fire Dr. Almeida
2018 The Bouncer Zeroual
2019 A Son Fares Ben Youssef
2019 Paradise Beach Mehdi
2020 Earth and Blood Sami
2022 Our Ties Moussa
2024 The Crow Kronos

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1998 Une voix en or Film
2001 Combats de femme – Libre à tout prix The supervisor
2011 Signature Toman
2014 My Son's Murderer Will Die Tonight Antoine Harfouche Film
2016 Don't Leave Me Medhi Film
2017–2018 Remember Belgarde
2020 Of Earth and Blood Saïd Film
2021 Ganglands Mehdi
2023 Black Butterflies Carrel

Theatre

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Year Title Director Notes
1993 Romeo and Juliet Daniel Benoin
1995 La Traversée ou le Cri de Peter Pan Éric de Dadelsen
1996 Sallinger Anne-Françoise Benhamou & Denis Loubaton
2004 Gagarin Way Bertrand Bossard
2013 Ring Catherine Schaub

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result
1995 Thessaloniki Film Festival Best Actor Bye-Bye Won
2000 Cabourg Film Festival Male Revelation Drôle de Félix Won
2006 Cannes Film Festival Best Actor[3] Days of Glory Won
2008 César Award Best Supporting Actor The Witnesses Won
2012 César Award Best Actor Omar Killed Me Nominated
2015 Dubai International Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award Won
2019 Venice Film Festival Horizons Award for Best Actor A Son Won
2021 César Award Best Actor Won

References

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  1. ^ "BOUAJILA Sami". lesgensducinema.com (in French). Retrieved 22 May 2021. Naissance : 26 mai 1966 / Lieu : LA TRONCHE (38-France) / Reférence : Extrait de naissance n° 1380/1966
  2. ^ "Reconnaissance de l'Etat palestinien : qu'attendez-vous monsieur Macron ? 230 artistes lancent un appel". Libération (in French). 4 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Festival de Cannes: Days of Glory". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-12-13.
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