Known for Acting
Leïla Bekhti (ليلى بختي) is a French-Algerian actress, born on March 6, 1984, in Issy-les-Moulineaux. She notably received the César Award for Most Promising Actress in 2011 for her role in Tout Ce Qui Brille. In 2010, Leïla Bekhti married actor Tahar Rahim, whom she met in 2007 on the set of the film A Prophet. Leïla Bekhti was born into an Algerian family from Sidi Bel Abbès in western Algeria, who settled in the Paris region. Born in Issy-les-Moulineaux, Leïla Bekhti grew up in Bagneux. She is the youngest of three children. While a high school student, she regularly bought Casting magazine, with the sole intention of having fun looking for ads that might be of interest to her, without taking any action each time they did. After obtaining a literary baccalaureate (with a theater option) from the Maurice-Genevoix high school in Montrouge, she reluctantly enrolled in a university and took an art therapy course there.[4] She also attended a theater school in Paris for six months, without much regular attendance. While working various odd jobs—including as a saleswoman in a clothing store owned by her brother in Orléans—to pay for her classes, she then enrolled at the Stéphane-Gildas school in Paris, then Bérengère Basty's class at the Art'aire Studio. In 2005, encouraged by friends, she went to the casting of Sheitan, a film by Kim Chapiron with Vincent Cassel (also the film's producer), and obtained one of the main roles, that of Yasmine, a young woman with no fears. Leïla Bekhti then played in the TV film Harkis with Smaïn and rediscovered the history of Algeria, the country where her family comes from. We find Leïla Bekhti in Paris, Je T’Aime then in Roschdy Zem's first film Mauvaise Foi. Then, her friend Géraldine Nakache offered her the main role alongside her in Tout Ce Qui Brille, a real box-office success, which earned her a César for Most Promising Actress. In 2011, she played in Toi, Moi, Les autres and Itinéraire Bis. After La Source Des Femmes, Leïla Bekhti returned to the screen in A Better Life with Guillaume Canet in January 2012. This was followed by more than fifty films and as many notable roles, in both drama and comedy, for film and television (see filmography). In her private life, Leila Bekhti met actor Tahar Rahim on the set of Jacques Audiard's film A Prophet, released in 2009. They married discreetly in 2010 and went on to have five children.
Born
March 6, 1984 (age 42)
Birthplace
Issy-les-Moulineaux, Hauts-de-Seine, France
Filmography
51 films, 20 shows


Violette
2026
country: France
Violette Toussaint, a cemetery caretaker in a small town in Burgundy, is a unique observer and a compassionate listener. Her peaceful life is filled by conversations with quirky cemetery workers and the many visitors who share their stories of love, loss, and life. However, her routine is disrupted when a local police chief arrives at her door with an unusual request. As they grow closer, Violette comes to understand that the truth behind long-buried mysteries in her past must be uncovered if she wants to take another chance on life and, against all odds, love.


The Original+
2025 · 2h 27m
country: France
Canal+ Group hosted a live splashy American-style upfront presentation the Olympia in Paris, unveiling their prestige 2026 slate.


Once Upon My Mother
2025 · 1h 42m
country: France
In 1963, Esther gives birth to Roland, the youngest of a large family. Roland is born with a club foot that prevents him from standing. Against everyone's advice, she promises her son that he will walk like the others and that he will have a fabulous life. From then on, Esther will do everything in her power to keep this promise. Through decades of trials and miracles of life, this film is the story of a true, funny and moving story, that of an incredible destiny and the greatest love there is: that of a mother for her child.


Grand Corps Malade au Zénith de Lille
2024
country: France


Maria Montessori
2023 · 1h 40m
country: France
Set in 1900, Lili d’Alengy, a Parisian cocotte at the height of her fame, flees Paris to hide her “idiot” daughter. There she meets Maria Montessori, who is pioneering a teaching method that may help the child.


Loving Memories
2023 · 1h 27m
country: France
1916. Julien Delaunay is reported missing in action during the Great War. His wife, Julie, refuses to believe he is dead. 1919. When a photo of an amnesic drifter appears in the press, Julie immediately recognizes him as her beloved husband. They are reunited and, little by little, she helps him to fall in love with her again. Until another woman claims to be the man’s real wife…


All Your Faces
2023 · 1h 55m
country: France
Since 2014, France's restorative justice programmes have offered a safe space for supervised dialogue between offenders and victims. Grégoire, Nawelle, and Sabine, victims of heists and violent robberies, agree to join one of these discussion groups alongside offenders Nassim, Issa, and Thomas, all convicted of violent robberies. Meanwhile Chloé, a victim of childhood sexual abuse, prepares for dialogue with her own agressor after learning he has moved back into town.


Saddle Up For Revenge
2021 · 1h 45m
country: France
Parody of the acclaimed Australian series of the 80s, Return to Eden. Wealthy heiress Stephanie Harper marries athlete Craig Danners, without suspecting that he only wants her money and is having an affair with her best friend, Crystal. Craig and Crystal have a plan to get rid of Stephanie and steal her fortune by making her suffer a terrible accident, which leaves her face disfigured. She is saved by the handsome Doctor Danley, who performed a plastic surgery on Stephanie that turned her into a completely different and beautiful woman. Stephanie starts plotting her revenge against Craig and Crystal, who believe that she died in the accident.


The Restless
2021 · 1h 57m
country: Belgium
Leila and Damien are deeply in love. Despite his bipolar disorder, he tries to pursue his life with her, knowing he may never be able to offer her what she desires.


The Third War
2021 · 1h 32m
country: France
After completing his military training, young Léo, a taciturn soldier with family problems and secret addictions, is assigned to one of the units that patrol the streets of Paris in search of possible terrorist threats as part of Operation Sentinelle.


How I Became a Superhero
2020 · 1h 41m
country: France
Paris 2020. While superheroes have assimilated into the Parisian society, they discover a new drug that gives themselves personal superpowers to mere mortals. Lieutenants Moreau and Schaltzmann are investigating the case with the support of two ex-superheroes, Monte Carlo and Callista. They'll do whatever it takes to dismantle the traffic. But Moreau's past resurfaces, and the investigation becomes more complicated.


Perfect Nanny
2019 · 1h 40m
country: France
When Myriam, the mother of two young children, decides, despite the reluctance of her husband to resume her activity in a law firm, the couple is looking for a nanny. After a severe casting, they hire Louise, who quickly conquers the affection of children and gradually occupies a central place in the home. Gradually the trap of mutual dependence will close, until the tragedy.


I'll Go Where You Go
2019 · 1h 40m
country: France
Vali and Mina are two sisters who are polar opposites, pushed apart by life’s hardships and trials. One is a singer, a dreamer and emotional. The other is a therapist, distant and rational. Their loving father has finally found the perfect opportunity to bring them together, if only for a weekend, in order to hopefully patch things up between them: Vali has an audition in Paris and it’s mina who has to accompany her despite her contempt for her sister’s passion.


Battle of the Classes
2019 · 1h 43m
country: Belgium
As everyone knows, children make no difference between social classes, skin colors or religions. But then why does Corentin, Paul and Sofia's nine-year-old son, only have friends like him at Bagnolet's school? And when his friends all leave for a private school in Paris, his parents are frightened. From now on, Corentin is the only one in his class. But the only what?


Omar Sy, c'est ta chance
2018
country: France


A Man in a Hurry
2018 · 1h 40m
country: France
The story revolves around Alain, a busy businessman who is always in a rush. In his life, there is no room for spare time or family. But one day, he suffers a stroke, which makes him lose his grasp of language and use one word in place of another.


Sink or Swim
2018 · 2h 2m
country: France
40-year-old Bertrand has been suffering from depression for the last two years and is barely able to keep his head above water. Despite the medication he gulps down all day, every day, and his wife's encouragement, he is unable to find any meaning in his life. Curiously, he will end up finding this sense of purpose at the swimming pool, by joining an all-male synchronised swimming team.


Beirut
2018 · 1h 49m
country: United States
In 1980s Beirut, Mason Skiles is a former U.S. diplomat who is called back into service to save a colleague from the group that is possibly responsible for his own family's death. Meanwhile, a CIA field agent who is working under cover at the American embassy is tasked with keeping Mason alive and ensuring that the mission is a success.


Carnivores
2018 · 1h 38m
country: Belgium
At the dawn of her thirties, Mona tries relentlessly to take off as an actress. Time passes and proposals do not arrive. Short of resources, she is forced to move to Sam, her younger sister.


The View from Up Here
2017 · 17m
country: United States
Claire and Lila are neighbours. They both live in the same building, they see each other every day but they hardly know each other's names. Until today, when Claire decides to pay a visit to Lila and to ask for something that will definitely put at risk the cohabitation.


Speak Up
2017 · 1h 35m
country: France
Raise the voice, speak eloquently, construct and argue a discourse. Tools so necessary in life as exciting to build. In Paris, the date of Eloquentia, an oratory contest where young people —not exactly privileged— will measure their strength, is approaching.


All Three of Us
2015 · 1h 42m
country: France
An Iranian family survives the shah and the ayatollah and moves to France. This story follows the family through it all. Despite the politics, revolution, prison, beatings, assassinations and suicides this is a comedy.


Astragal
2015 · 1h 37m
country: France
On a night of April 1957, Albertine, a brillant and rebel 19-year-old girl, jumps from the wall of the prison where she’s serving a sentence for a holdup. In her fall, a bone from her ankle breaks: the astragal. She is rescued by Julien, a justice fugitive, and so is born a burning passion between them. He takes her to Paris and hides her. But while he leads his gangster life here and there, the young woman struggles for her freedom and against the wounds inflicted by Julien’s absence, and writes poetry.


Now or Never
2014 · 1h 32m
country: Belgium
As a mother, in principle, you do not rob banks. But these days, it can be a solution for the future of your home, and not to give up on your dreams. Playing the thieves can quickly become dangerous and bad encounters can turn into a love story ...
Le Débarquement 2
Le Débarquement 2
2013
country: France


Before the Winter Chill
2013 · 1h 43m
country: France
They are the perfect French haute bourgeois couple: Paul is a respected surgeon and Lucie cooks and gardens exquisitely. But now, in the autumn of his life, Paul can’t resist the lure of an ambiguous and dangerous relationship with a mysterious young woman. Might there be something sinister behind the roses delivered to his office and the “chance” meetings?


... à la française !
2013 · 2h
country: France


Le Débarquement
2013 · 1h 53m
country: France
Inspired by the American program Saturday Night Live from NBC, around thirty actors take part in various humorous sketches.


Nous York
2012 · 1h 38m
country: France
Thirty-somethings Michaël, Nabil and Sylvain head to New York to surprise their friend Samia on her birthday, secretly arranged with the help of another friend, Gabrielle. The two women had moved to NYC two years previously to try their luck. Samia shares a fabulous loft with a renowned American actress and works as her assistant. Gabrielle has a more mundane job in a small retirement home. Transposed to New York, the close bonds formed over the years between the five friends from a housing project on the outskirts of Paris take on a different aspect. The laughter and emotion is dictated by the adventures they share during their stay, from the daily lives of the women to the discovery of this cult city.


Armed Hands
2012 · 1h 45m
country: France
Lucas and his team are after a gang of Serbian criminals using NATO-issued weapons. As the investigation leads him to Paris, Lucas attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter, a young narc officer.


A Better Life
2011 · 1h 50m
country: France
Yann, a cook, and Nadia, a waitress and mother of 9-year-old child, decide to risk everything on the purchase of a restaurant. With plenty of talent, energy, love and dreams, but no finance of their own, they find themselves forced into a jungle of financing and bank loans that quickly overwhelms them. To bail them out, Nadia has to take a job in Canada, while Yann is forced to stay behind to save the restaurant. Together, he and the child confront a relentless avalanche of creditors, an uncaring system and the daily grind from which there is no respite… Yann finally understands that his only chance of salvation lies in joining his lover – as well as reuniting mother and child – by following Nadia to Canada and a better life.


The Source
2011 · 2h 15m
country: Morocco
A comedy/drama set in a village and centered on a battle of the sexes, where women threaten to withhold sexual favours as long as the men refuse to install a water pipe.


Itinéraire bis
2011 · 1h 20m
country: France
35-year-old Jean still lives with his mother in a small village in Corsica and works as a cook in the family's restaurant. His future, to his great despair, is all mapped out: he'll take over the restaurant. But one day Nora, a young and forceful woman, is thrown into the sea from a racing yacht. She washes up on the beach at Jean's feet - adventure has at last knocked at his door.


Leila
2011 · 1h 25m
country: France
Gab has a well-ordered life: a fiancée, a wealthy family. Leïla, who struggles to juggle her studies, odd jobs, and a brother to support, does not allow herself to live her own life... When Gab meets Leïla, it is a clash of worlds, the beginning of a great love story that will collide violently with reality.


Fracture
2010 · 1h 55m
country: France
Anna is a young teacher assigned as a substitute at a challenging middle school in the suburbs of Paris. In her class, Lakhdar, a well-behaved and promising student, has suffered a medical mishap and lost the use of his right hand.


Bacon on the Side
2010 · 1h 30m
country: France
Djalil Boudaoud and Justine Lacroix are a surgeon and a television reporter who enter a romantic relationship despite the objections of their families to the cultural gap.


Conte de la frustration
2010
country: France


All That Glitters
2010 · 1h 40m
country: France
Best friends Ely and Lila share everything together, including their dream of a life beyond the Paris suburb they've lived in since childhood. One night they venture into the capital and meet a pair of wealthy young friends at a night club. Ashamed of their working-class background, and seeing an opportunity to escape, Ely and Lila begin to lie their way into this glamorous new world. Falling deeper into their web of lies, the young women begin to lose sight of themselves as their friendship is pushed to the limit.


A Prophet
2009 · 2h 35m
country: France
Sentenced to six years in prison, Malik El Djebena is alone in the world and can neither read nor write. On his arrival at the prison, he seems younger and more brittle than the others detained there. At once he falls under the sway of a group of Corsicans who enforce their rule in the prison. As the 'missions' go by, he toughens himself and wins the confidence of the Corsican group.


Twenty Show: The Film
2009 · 1h 30m
country: France
Twenty Show was the first "user generated film", edited from fictional and real video-blogs. A unique experience initiated on the Internet, a mockumentary that paints a generational portrait of young French people in their twenties.


Myriam's choice
2009 · 3h 20m
country: France
The arrival in France of the first generation of Algerian immigrants. In the early sixties, Kader, soon joined by his wife Myriam, tries to build a new life on French soil. Like many other couples, they soon find themselves torn between the dream of returning to their homeland and that of prospering in a land that is not always welcoming.


Mesrine: Killer Instinct
2008 · 1h 53m
country: Canada
Jacques Mesrine, a loyal son and dedicated soldier, is back home and living with his parents after serving in the Algerian War. Soon he is seduced by the neon glamour of sixties Paris and the easy money it presents. Mentored by Guido, Mesrine turns his back on middle class law-abiding and soon moves swiftly up the criminal ladder.


Dolls and Angels
2008 · 1h 42m
country: France
The father of a family of North African immigrants living on a Paris housing estate finds it hard to impose his will on his two teenage daughters. Lya, 17, and Chirine, 18, respond to their father’s bouts of violence by rebelling in the same way as most French adolescents. When Chirine is offered work as a model, she jumps at the chance, but soon realizes she may be about to fall into the prostitution racket...


Harkis
2008 · 1h 38m
country: France
1972, in the south of France, deep in the forest, a family with meager luggage discovers the new camp where they will live. Despite the camp leader's overt paternalism, the Harkis lead a difficult life without real freedom. A life of poverty and guardianship that Leila, the Benamars' eldest daughter, rejects. She is at the age of rebellion, and also of her first love. For her, her father, Saïd, scarred by war and exile, accustomed to giving in, owes nothing to the French who enlisted him in the French army, then failed to protect them in Algeria. Thanks to her, with the help of a peasant couple, he will raise his head and the Benamars will leave the camp for a nearby farm.


Choosing Love
2008 · 53m
country: France
In Paris, a university student attempts to lead a double life - in love with her French boyfriend Pascal, and staying true to her Algerian family, particular her strict, traditional father. In Algiers, her cousin Yacine leads a parallel life, preparing to leave his girlfriend to move to Paris.


Ali Baba and the 40 thieves
2007 · 3h
country: Germany
The story of Ali Baba, who takes on forty thieves to save the Caliph of Baghdad and prevent a war between the Orient and the Occident.


Bad Faith
2006 · 1h 28m
country: France
In Paris, Clara, psycho motor therapist, and Ismaël, music teacher, have been lovers for four years. Happy, the couple are expecting their first child and decide to move in together. But the news is not well received by their respective families because Clara is Jewish and Ishmael a Muslim. Although not practicing, this difference will gradually sow trouble in their love life.


For the Love of God
2006 · 1h 30m
country: France
Kévin-Mohamed is a young high school student from an integrated and secular family. He befriends a girl from a strict religious family and falls in love with her


Paris Je T'aime
2006 · 2h
country: France
Olivier Assayas, Gus Van Sant, Wes Craven and Alfonso Cuaron are among the 20 distinguished directors who contribute to this collection of 18 stories, each exploring a different aspect of Parisian life. The colourful characters in this drama include a pair of mimes, a husband trying to choose between his wife and his lover, and a married man who turns to a prostitute for advice.
Quais de Seine
Quais de Seine
2006 · 10m
country: France
This short from the anthology film Paris, je t’aime looks at the meeting between two teenagers, one a catcaller and the other a Muslim girl. Directed by Gurinder Chadha.


Satan
2006 · 1h 34m
country: France
A group of young people leave a disco and bump into a shepherd who is ready to spend his night worshipping Satan.