Yanis Koussim’s “Roqia” is Algeria’s official Oscar 2027 pick: psychological horror on the trauma of the “Black Decade”

Algeria has chosen director Yanis Koussim’s “Roqia” as its official submission for best international feature at the 99th Academy Awards, as Broadcast Pro ME reports. The horror film, selected by Algeria’s Oscar Selection Committee, will represent the country at the ceremony held on March 14, 2027 in Los Angeles. The news was also confirmed by the European cinema portal Cineuropa.

“Roqia” weaves psychological horror with collective memory. The story follows Ahmed, an amnesiac man who returns to his village in 1993 after an accident, his face covered in bandages and with no memory of the past. His return sets off a series of disturbing events involving his family and the village community. In parallel, the film also follows an aging raqi — a spiritual healer — whose memory is fading, adding another layer to the exploration of the past.

The film’s backdrop is Algeria’s “Black Decade” of the 1990s, and Koussim uses the horror genre to explore the psychological and collective trauma left by the violence of that period. The director has described the film as an attempt to confront the lasting impact of that violence and questions of identity, memory and the nature of evil.

Koussim directed the film from his own screenplay, starring Ali Namous, Akram Djeghim, Mostefa Djadjam, Hanaa Mansour and Lydia Hanni in leading roles. The film was produced by Farès Ladjimi of Supernova Films and is a co-production between France, Algeria, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, with Alpha Violet handling international sales. Born in Sétif in 1977, Koussim previously signed the short films “Ma sœur” and “Khouya,” the documentary “Un été à Alger” and the feature “Algiers by Night.”

“Roqia” has already secured international festival exposure, including selection in Critics’ Week at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, as well as nominations at Sitges and Fantasy Filmfest. According to the AwardsWatch portal, this is Algeria’s 27th submission in history — the country has been nominated five times and won once, with “Z” (1969).