Ahmed Benaissa, 'Sons of Ramses' Star, Dies Hours Before Cannes Premiere

His latest film, Clement Cogitore’s Sons of Ramses, featured the late star as Ramses’s (Karim Leklou) father. It was set to premiere in a special screening in the Critics’ Week strand of the festival.

“I am deeply saddened at the sudden passing of Ahmed Benaissa. The film would not exist without him and words can’t express our sorrow at premiering the film in Cannes today,” the director said in a statement.

The evening’s screening of the film is now dedicated to him.

“The art scene has lost one of its prominent people. He [Benaissa] leaves behind a theatrical and cinematic artistic legacy,” said the Algerian Ministry’s Sourieh Molougi in a statement.

He starred in over 120 films and plays in his lifetime.

Our thoughts are with Ahmed Benaissa‘s loved ones at this difficult time.