In partnership with SAFAR Film Festival, we bring the UK premiere of The Last Queen to Storyhouse in Chester for this year’s festival. 

Algeria, 1516. The pirate Aruj Barbarossa frees Algiers from the tyranny of the Spanish and seizes power over the kingdom. Rumour has it he murdered the King Salim Toumi, despite their alliance. Against all odds, one woman will stand up to him: Queen Zaphira. Between history and legend, this woman’s journey tells of a struggle, of personal and political turmoil endured for the sake of Algiers.

The first work co-directed by Algerian director-actress Adila Bendimerad and French-Algerian director Damien Ounouri, The Last Queen is “a pulsating portrait of a heroine from the past, boast[ing] sumptuous period costumes and sets, well-choreographed fight sequences and strong-willed female characters, all amidst a backdrop of flesh, blood and bones.” – CineEuropa