Green Gold
Co-Director, Producer, Cinematographer
Special Mention, Gotham Week Honors 2026.
- National Geographic Explorer
- Gotham Week Honors 2026
- IDFA Forum
- CPH:FORUM
- France Télévisions
- JustFilms / Ford Foundation
- Cannes Docs Co-Pro Social Club
- Mountainfilm
- COP29
- The Redford Center
Films
Enraizados
Co-Director, Producer & Impact Producer
When an Indigenous town in Mexico rises up against illegal logging, three generations lead a fight to reclaim their forest, their autonomy, and their future.
A Slide and Barbed Wires
Co-Director, Cinematographer, Impact Producer
Two families are arrested and detained in a French immigration detention center, where children face prison-like conditions. Through their voices, and those of the staff, the film exposes a hidden reality: nearly 37,000 children have been held in detention in France over the past decade.
As Long As I Move
Director, Producer
When doctors diagnosed Romain, 29, with an aggressive bone cancer, he made a radical choice: to become a professional dancer.
Silent Murder
Co-Director, Producer
In 1973, a wave of racist murders swept through France’s Algerian immigrant communities. Fifty years later, survivors and families break their silence, revisiting streets, memories, and wounds long buried.
Impact
Project Highlight
A Slide and Barbed Wires (2024)
“A Slide and Barbed Wires” is a feature documentary about the detention of migrant children in France. Co-directed and produced by Sélim Benzeghia, the film was at the center of a national impact campaign built to raise awareness, shift public opinion, and influence legislative debate.
The film was broadcast on France 3 and made available via France TV’s digital platform, as well as LCP (La Chaîne Parlementaire), which extended its reach to further engage political audiences.
Key Achievements
01 — Screening at the French Parliament
The film was screened at the Assemblée Nationale during active debates on immigration law. Organized in partnership with UNICEF, the event brought personal stories and expert insights directly to lawmakers.
02 — Influencing Legislative Discussion
The screening played a role in shaping the national conversation on detention policy, contributing to greater political awareness and pressure for reform.
03 — NGO & Institutional Partnerships
In collaboration with UNICEF, the Right Livelihood Foundation, and the Global Campus of Human Rights, the campaign supported educational programs, public talks, and further distribution of the film.
Partners: Right Livelihood Foundation, UNICEF, Global Campus of Human Rights, LCP, France TV
About
Sélim Benzeghia is an award-winning French-Algerian documentary director, producer, cinematographer and impact strategist, based in New York.
Sélim Benzeghia (he/him) is a French-Algerian director, producer and cinematographer based in New York, working between the US and France, with projects in Latin America and North Africa. A National Geographic Explorer and co-founder of Koudéta Films, he makes documentaries on climate justice, human rights and forced migration. His credits include work for Nova Productions, France Télévisions, LCP and Radio Nova.
His work has been supported by the CNC Diversity Fund, The Rogovy Foundation, The Redford Center, AlterCiné Foundation, Creative Europe MEDIA and JustFilms / Ford Foundation. He was a resident at the 2023 Documentary Campus Masterschool and IDFAcademy 2024, and is a member of Collectif 50/50 and the Video Consortium.
Professional Affiliations
Contact
- Professional Services
- Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Impact Strategist
selim.benzeghia@koudetafilms.comNew York / Paris