About Sélim
Sélim Benzeghia is an award-winning French-Algerian documentary filmmaker, producer, and impact strategist.
Sélim Benzeghia (he/him) is a Franco-Algerian director and producer, and co-founder of Koudeta Films. He specializes in documentaries on social issues, including climate justice, human rights, and forced migration. His credits have included work for Nova Productions, France Télévision, and Radio Nova. His documentary A Slide and Barbed Wire (2023) aired on French National Television, received critical acclaim, and played a role in a UNICEF impact campaign that influenced policy changes regarding the detention of migrant children in France. Sélim co-directed the short film Enraizados (Our Roots Remain), supported by The Redford Center, which premiered at COP29 and MountainFilm is now on the Festival circuit.
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, IDFAcademy 2024, and is a member of Collectif 50/50, which advocates for gender parity and diversity in the film industry.
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GRANTS & HONORS
2024
Climate Solutions Grant, The Redford Center (Enraizados)
IDFA Forum & IDFAcademy (Green Gold)
The Redford Center Grantee (Green Gold)
The Rogovy Foundation Miller Fund (Green Gold)
2023
Masterschool Selection, Documentary Campus – Creative Europe Media (Green Gold)
2022
Kellogg Research Fellowship (Green Gold)
CNC National Centre of Cinematography Animated Pictures / Region Grand Est (A Slide and Barbed Wires )
2021
Global Campus of Human Rights/Right Livelihood Foundation (A Slide and Barbed Wires )
Mentee Collectif 50/50
2018
Grant Laureate Institute of Engagement/Em Lyon Business School
2016
Laureate Institute of Engagement
FESTIVAL FEATURES & AWARDS
"Enraizados" (2024-2025)
Winner – Korea Gyeonggi International Film Festival for SDGs (SDGsFF)
Official Selection – Mountainfilm Festival: The Long & Short of It
Official Selection – MIC Género Muestra Internacional de Cine con Perspectiva de Género
Official Selection – ECOador Festival Internacional de Cine Ambiental
Official Selection Human Rights Film Festival - Constitution Hill
COP29 Extreme Hangout – "Indigenous-Led Climate Action and the Power of Storytelling"
"A Slide and Barbed Wires" (2024-2025)
Finalist – Woman, Life, Freedom Film Festival (2025)
Semi-Finalist – HECare Film Festival (Human-Environment Care Film Festival, HECFF) (2025)
Official Selection – Human Screen Festival
Official Selection – Festival Migrant’scène
Prix Média – Enfance Majuscule (2025)