Erige Sehiri is a talented filmmaker from Tunisia whose works captivate audiences around the world. Born on August 1, 1982, in Lyon, France, to a Tunisian family, she grew up in Vénissieux, a suburb of Lyon, in the Minguettes neighborhood. Her father worked as an electrician, and her mother was a kitchen supervisor in a college. From a young age, Erige Sehiri developed a passion for cinema and avidly frequented the neighborhood's only movie theater.
After obtaining her baccalaureate, Erige Sehiri decided to travel to North America to pursue a career in the film industry. However, due to the high costs of formal training, she had to take alternative paths. She learned English in San Francisco and became interested in finance in Montreal while working various odd jobs.
Upon her return to Europe, Erige Sehiri found employment in a bank in Luxembourg. However, her true passion lay in filmmaking. She began filming in the Minguettes, the neighborhood where she grew up, which allowed her to hone her skills as a filmmaker. She later worked as a fixer and assistant journalist in Jerusalem, an experience that broadened her understanding of the world and strengthened her determination to tell stories.
When the Tunisian Revolution erupted in 2011, Erige Sehiri traveled to Tunis to witness this historic event. It was there that she made her first documentary short film titled "Le Facebook de mon père," which depicts her father's initial steps on Facebook. The film screened at numerous film festivals, gaining Erige Sehiri recognition and familiarizing her with the film production process. She developed what she calls "creative documentaries," reconstructing scenes from reality without resorting to fiction.
Over the years, Erige Sehiri directed several other acclaimed documentary short films. In 2018, she achieved a significant milestone with her first feature-length documentary, "La Voie normale," which explores the world of railway work. The film premiered in Tunisia in 2019 and subsequently screened in theaters in France in 2020.
In 2022, Erige Sehiri transitioned into fiction with the release of her debut feature film, "Sous les figues" (Under the Fig Trees). The film premiered at the Directors' Fortnight at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and garnered praise from audiences and critics alike. In recognition of her talent, the film received the prestigious Bayard d'Or at the 37th edition of the Namur International Francophone Film Festival. Additionally, "Sous les figues" was selected as Tunisia's entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2023 Oscars.
In addition to her filmmaking career, Erige Sehiri is also a producer through her company Henia Production, which develops creative documentaries and supports projects by young filmmakers. She is a passionate advocate for women's rights and co-founded Rawiyat-Sisters in Film, a collective that supports female filmmakers from the Arab world.
Erige Sehiri's filmography is already impressive, including documentary shorts such as "Le Facebook de mon père" (2012), "La Voie normale" (2018), and her debut feature film, "Sous les figues" (2022). Each of her works showcases her unique artistic vision and ability to captivate audiences.
Erige Sehiri is a talented filmmaker whose hard work and dedication to the cinematic arts have brought Tunisian culture to the forefront on the world stage. Her personal story and unconventional journey have nourished her creativity and sensitivity, establishing her as a prominent voice in the film industry. The world eagerly awaits her future creations, hoping to be transported once again into captivating and inspiring cinematic worlds.