Written and directed by Mouloud Aït Liotna, the film features Mehdi Ramdani and Mohamed Lefkir in lead roles.
Algerian director Mouloud Aït Liotna’s short film, The House is on Fire, Might as Well Get Warm, has captivated audiences at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in France, with four packed screenings held thus far. The festival, running from February 2 to 10, has provided a platform for the film to showcase its narrative and performances.
Having commenced its festival journey with a world premiere at the Directors’ Fortnight of the 76th Cannes Film Festival, the short film has now garnered further recognition by competing in the National Competition of one of the world’s most prestigious short film festivals.
Screening consecutively for four days from February 3 to 6, The House is on Fire, Might as Well Get Warm continues to generate buzz with four more highly anticipated screenings scheduled. These screenings are set for February 7 at 11:30 am – Cocteau, February 8 at 2:30 pm – Horizon, February 9 at 9:30 am – Jaude 4, and February 10 at 6 pm – Lumière.
The film follows Yanis, a young Kabyle man, as he prepares to depart for Paris. However, a visit to his nearby village to settle some affairs leads to unexpected encounters and revelations, transforming his final day into a poignant road movie through the landscapes of Algeria.
Since its debut at Cannes’ Director’s Fortnight, The House is on Fire, Might as Well Get Warm has garnered acclaim at various film festivals, including the Festival de Cinéma de Douarnenez, Bejaia Film Encounters, Cinemed – Festival Cinéma Méditerranéen Montpellier, and the Festival des Cinémas d’Afrique du Pays d’Apt.
During its production phase, the film received crucial financial support from esteemed institutions such as Région Occitanie, AFAC, and the Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image Animée.
Written and directed by Mouloud Aït Liotna and produced by Avant la Nuit, led by Benjamin Costes and Thibaut Amri, the film features Mehdi Ramdani and Mohamed Lefkir in lead roles.