Sami Bouajila

Sami Bouajila (born 26 May 1966) is a Tunisian-French actor who has won two César Awards. Bouajila has worked and acted in two Oscar nominated films (Days of Glory and Outside the Law), both directed by director Rachid Bouchareb.

Early life Bouajila's father emigrated from Tunisia to France in 1956, and worked as a building painter, a professionally recognized skill requiring specific technical knowledge. His grandfather was an Amazigh and immigrated to Tunisia. Bouajila was born and grew up in Échirolles, a suburb south of Grenoble. He studied theatre.

Political views In June 2024, Bouajila signed a petition addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron demanding France to officially recognize the State of Palestine.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes 1991 La Thune Kamel 1993 Les Histoires d'amour finissent mal... en général Slim Touati 1993 The Hour of the Pig Mahmoud 1994 The Silences of the Palace Lofti 1995 Bye-Bye Ismaël 1996 Anna Oz Marc 1997 Artemisia Tassi's assistant 1997 Le DéménagementJean 1997 Né quelque part Driss Bourafia 1998 The Siege Samir Nazhde 1999 Inséparables Boris 1999 La Peur du vide 1999 Our Happy Lives Ali 2000 Douce France 2000 Félix 2000 Faites comme si je n'étais pas là Tom 2000 Poetical Refugee Jallel 2000 Nouvelle de la tour L Dealer 2001 Change moi ma vie Fidel 2001 Replay Nicolas 2002 Embrassez qui vous voudrez Kévin 2002 The Nest Selim 2002 Vivre me tue Paul Smaïl 2003 La Légende de Parva Agni Voice 2003 Playing 'In the Company of Men' Léonard 2003 Pas si grave Charlie 2005 Avant l'oubli Augustin Burger 2005 Zaïna, cavalière de l'Atlas Mustapha 2006 Days of Glory Abdel Kader 2006 Le Concile de pierre Lucas 2007 24 mesures Chris 2007 Le Dernier gang Casa 2007 The Witnesses Mehdi 2009 The Whistler Karim Chaouche 2009 London River Imam 2009 Bitter Victory Yacine Guesmila 2009 Le Premier Cercle Saunier 2010 De vrais mensonges Jean 2010 Outside the Law Abdelkader 2011 Omar Killed Me Omar Raddad 2011 Carré blanc Philippe 2014 Patchwork Family Christian 2014 Divin Enfant Jean 2015 Braqueurs Yanis Zeri 2015 A Stormy Summer Night Nabil 2015 Good Luck Algeria Sam 2016 Pattaya Krimo's father 2016 Scribe Labarthe 2017 The Blessed Samir 2018 Through the Fire Dr. Almeida 2018 The Bouncer Zeroual 2019 A Son Fares Ben Youssef 2019 Paradise Beach Mehdi 2020 Earth and Blood Sami 2022 Our Ties Moussa 2024 The Crow Kronos 2025 Desert Warrior Hani

Television Year Title Role Notes 1998 Une voix en or Film 2001 Combats de femme – Libre à tout prix The supervisor 2011 Signature Toman 2014 My Son's Murderer Will Die Tonight Antoine Harfouche Film 2016 Don't Leave Me Medhi Film 2017–2018 Remember Belgarde 2020 Of Earth and Blood Saïd Film 2021 Ganglands Mehdi 2023 Black Butterflies Carrel

Theatre Year Title DirectorNotes 1993 Romeo and Juliet Daniel Benoin 1995 La Traversée ou le Cri de Peter Pan Éric de Dadelsen 1996 Sallinger Anne-Françoise Benhamou & Denis Loubaton 2004 Gagarin Way Bertrand Bossard 2013 Ring Catherine Schaub

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 1995 Thessaloniki Film Festival Best Actor Bye-Bye 2000 Cabourg Film Festival Male Revelation 2006 Cannes Film Festival Best Actor Days of Glory 2008 César Award Best Supporting Actor The Witnesses 2012 César Award Best Actor Omar Killed Me 2015 Dubai International Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award 2019 Venice Film Festival Horizons Award for Best ActorA Son 2021 César Award Best Actor