Michel Boujenah (born 3 November 1952) is a French-

Tunisia ) , image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa , image_map2 = , capital = Tunis , largest_city = capital , ...

n Jewish

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...

, comedian, film director, and screenwriter.

Life and career

Michel Boujenah was born on 3 November 1952 in

Tunis ''Tounsi'' french: Tunisois , population_note = , population_urban = , population_metro = 2658816 , population_density_km2 = , timezone1 = CET , utc_offset1 ...

, Tunisia. He is the brother of

Paul Boujenah Paul Boujenah, is a French-Tunisian film director. He is the brother of Michel Boujenah and the uncle of siblings Matthieu Boujenah and Lucie Boujenah. Selected filmography External links * Tunisian film directors Living people Y ...

, a film director, and the uncle of actors Matthieu Boujenah and Lucie Boujenah. Boujenah has appeared in over thirty films as well as a variety of television productions. He has also directed the films ''

Father and Sons ''Father and Sons'' (french: Père et Fils) is a 2003 French-Canadian comedy film directed by Michel Boujenah Michel Boujenah (born 3 November 1952) is a French-Tunisian Jewish actor, comedian, film director, and screenwriter. Life and ca ...

'' (2003), ''Trois amis'' (2007), and '' Heartstrings'' (2016), and written screenplays for a number of others.

Controversy

In 2017, Boujenah's invitation to appear at a Tunisian cultural festival was protested by activists involved in the

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) is a Palestinian-led movement promoting boycotts, divestments, and economic sanctions against Israel. Its objective is to pressure Israel to meet what the BDS movement describes as Israel's obligations ...

movement against Israel. While Boujenah is not Israeli, he has spoken positively about Israel and said "I feel Jewish, French, Tunisian, Zionist and very close to Israel, as well as a supporter of a Palestinian state." The Tunisian Association for the Support of Minorities defended Boujenah and accused boycott promoters of

antisemitism Antisemitism (also spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism) is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who holds such positions is called an antisemite. Antisemitism is considered to be a form of racism. Antis ...

Selected filmography

Director * ''

'' (2003) * ''Trois amis'' (2007) * '' Heartstrings'' (2016)

Awards and nominations

* 1985 – won the

César Award for Best Supporting Actor List of winners and nominees of the César Award for Best Supporting Actor (french: César du meilleur second rôle masculin). History Superlatives List of winners and nominees 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Multiple awards an ...

for '' Three Men and a Cradle'' * 1994 – nominated for the

César Award for Best Actor This is the list of winners and nominees of the César Award for Best Actor (french: César du meilleur acteur). History Superlatives Winners 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Multiple wins and nominations The following indivi ...

for '' Le Nombril du Monde'' * 2004 – nominated for the

César Award for Best Debut Cesar, César or Cèsar may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''César'' (film), a 1936 film directed by Marcel Pagnol * ''César'' (play), a play by Marcel Pagnolt * César Award, a French film award Places * Cesar, Portugal * C ...

for ''

Honours

* : Officer of the Order of Cultural Merit (2004)Souvereign Ordonnance n° 16.513 of 18 November 2004
: promotions or nominations in the Order of Cultural Merit

References

External links

* * 1952 births Living people French comedians French male film actors French male television actors French film directors French male screenwriters French screenwriters Writers from Tunis Officers of the Order of Cultural Merit (Monaco) French people of Tunisian-Jewish descent Best Supporting Actor César Award winners 20th-century French male actors 21st-century French male actors French Zionists Tunisian Zionists {{screen-writer-stub