Mohamed Fellag (born 31 March 1950 in

Azeffoun Azeffoun, the classical Rusazus and colonial PortGueydon, is a town and commune in Tizi Ouzou Province in northern Algeria, located on Cape Corbelin north-east of Tizi Ouzou. The economy of the town of Azeffoun is based on tourism, fishing, and ...

Tizi Ouzou Tizi Ouzou or Thizi Wezzu (, Kabyle: Tizi Wezzu) is a city in north central Algeria. It is among the largest cities in Algeria. It is the second most populous city in the Kabylie region after Bejaia. History Etymology The name ''Tizi Ouzou' ...

) is an Algerian comedian, writer, humorist, and actor. In 1958, at the height of the

Algerian war of independence The Algerian War, also known as the Algerian Revolution or the Algerian War of Independence,( ar, الثورة الجزائرية '; '' ber, Tagrawla Tadzayrit''; french: Guerre d'Algérie or ') and sometimes in Algeria as the War of 1 November ...

, his father took him and his younger brother, for their safety, to stay with an aunt in Beni-Messous (then a very small village near Algiers) where they went to primary school. He did his secondary studies in Tizi-Ouzou (Ecole Jeanmaire and CEG.) He entered the School of Dramatic Arts of Algiers in 1968 and stayed there for four years performing in several theatres throughout Algeria.

Career

From 1978 to 1985, he participated in several theatrical productions, before returning to Algeria in 1985 to join the National Theatre of Algeria to play the principal role in

Eduardo De Filippo Eduardo De Filippo (; 24 May 1900 – 31 October 1984), also known simply as ''Eduardo'', was an Italian actor, director, screenwriter and playwright, best known for his Neapolitan works '' Filumena Marturano'' and '' Napoli Milionaria''. Cons ...

's production of L’Art de la Comédie. In 1986, he played in

Ray Bradbury Ray Douglas Bradbury (; August 22, 1920June 5, 2012) was an American author and screenwriter. One of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers, he worked in a variety of modes, including fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery fictio ...

's ''Le Costume Blanc Couleur Glace à la Noix de Coco'' and created ''Les Aventures de Tchop'', his first one-man show. He acted in a number of movies and TV shows during the period of turbulence in Algeria during the late 80s and early 90s. In 1989 he wrote the play ''Cocktail Khorotov'' and ''SOS Labès'' in 1990. He followed this in 1992 with ''Un bateau pour l'Australie-Babor Australia.'' In 1995, after a bomb explosion during one of his presentations, he moved first to

Tunisia ) , image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa , image_map2 = , capital = Tunis , largest_city = capital , ...

and then to

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

. There he found success on stage with his plays that confronted the social difficulties of France. He has appeared in numerous films, particularly since 2005, including the

Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People * Oscar (given name), an Irish- and English-language name also used in other languages; the article includes the names Oskar, Oskari, Oszkár, Óscar, and other forms. * Oscar (Irish mythology), ...

-nominated ''

Monsieur Lazhar ''Monsieur Lazhar'' is a 2011 Canadian French-language drama film directed by Philippe Falardeau and starring Mohamed Saïd Fellag, Sophie Nélisse and Danielle Proulx. Based on ''Bashir Lazhar'', a one-character play by Évelyne de la Chene ...

'', for which he won a Canadian

Genie Award The Genie Awards were given out annually by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to recognize the best of Canadian cinema from 1980–2012. They succeeded the Canadian Film Awards (1949–1978; also known as the "Etrog Awards," for sc ...

for

Best Actor in a Leading Role Best or The Best may refer to: People * Best (surname), people with the surname Best * Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer Companies and organizations * Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain * Best Lock Corporation ...

Awards and prizes

* ''Prix du Syndicat de la Critique'' (Critics' Circle Award) – 1998 * '' Prince Claus Award'' - 1999 * '' Raymond Devos prize'' – 2003 * ''Prix de la SACD de la Francophonie'' – 2003

Plays

* ''Cocktail Khorotov'', 1989 * ''SOS Labes'', 1990 * ''Un Bateau pour l'Australie'', 1992 * ''Djurdjurassic Bled'', 1998 * ''La Casbah'', 2003 with Biyouna * ''Le Dernier chameau'', 2004. * ''L'ère des Ninjas et Djurdjurassic'' (''Les Dinosaures'') in the théâtre of gymnase Marie-Bell, 2007

Publications

*''Les Aventures de Tchop'', 1965 *''Cocktail Khorotov'', 1989 *''SOS Labes'', 1990 *''Le Balcon de Djamila'' *''Djurdjurassique bled'', 1999 *''Rue des petites daurades'', novel, 2001 *''C'est à Alger'', 2002 *''Comment réussir un bon petit couscous'', 2003 *''Le Dernier chameau'' *''L'Allumeur de Rêves Berbères'', 2007 *''Tous les Algériens sont des mécaniciens'', 2009

Filmography

*1983: ''Liberté, la nuit'', by

Philippe Garrel Philippe Garrel (; born 6 April 1948) is a French director, cinematographer, screenwriter, film editor, and producer, associated with the French New Wave movement. His films have won him awards at Cannes Film Festival and Venice Film Festival. ...

*1990: ''De Hollywood à Tamanrasset'' *1998: ''Le Gone du Chaâba'', by Christophe Ruggia *2001: ''Inch'Allah dimanche'', by Yamina Benguigui *2002: ''Fleurs de sang'', by *2003: ''Momo mambo'', by Laïla Marrakchi *2005: ''Voisins, voisines'', by Malik Chibane *2005: ''Rue des figuiers'', by Yasmina Yahiaoui *2006: ''Michou d'Auber'', by Thomas Gilou *2007: '' L'Ennemi intime'', by

Florent Emilio Siri Florent-Emilio Siri (born 2 March 1965) is a French film director and screenwriter born in Lorraine. Siri studied cinema at the Sorbonne University and ESRA in Paris. Siri is a music video director. He has worked with such bands as IAM, Alli ...

*2009: '' The Barons'' *2010: '' Top Floor, Left Wing'' *2010: ''

Bacon on the Side ''Bacon on the Side'' (french: Il reste du jambon?; ) is a French romantic comedy film, released in 2010.The Rabbi's Cat'', by

Joann Sfar Joann Sfar (; born 28 August 1971) is a French comics artist, comic book creator, novelist, and film director. Life and career Sfar was born in Nice, the son of Lilou, a pop singer, who died when he was three, and André Sfar, a lawyer well kno ...

*2011: ''

'', by

Philippe Falardeau Philippe Falardeau (born February 1, 1968 in Hull, Quebec) is a Canadian film director and screenwriter. Early life Falardeau was born and raised in Hull, Quebec. He later studied political science at the University of Ottawa, before travelli ...

*2012: ''

What the Day Owes the Night ''What the Day Owes the Night'' is a 2008 novel by Algerian writer Yasmina Khadra. It was originally written and published in French. The English translation was produced by Frank Wynne, and published by Heinemann Heinemann may refer to: * He ...

'', by

Alexandre Arcady Alexandre Arcady (born 17 March 1947) is a French actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Life and career Alexandre Arcady was born in Algiers, Algeria. He emigrated to France at the age of fifteen. His son is filmmaker Alexandre Aja ...

References

External links

Mohand's personal website
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Fellag 1950 births Living people People from Azeffoun Kabyle people Algerian male comedians Algerian emigrants to France Algerian dramatists and playwrights Algerian male stage actors 20th-century Algerian male actors 21st-century Algerian male actors Algerian male film actors Algerian male television actors Algerian stand-up comedians Best Actor Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners