Moroccan movies that made it to the Venice film festival

The 79 international Venice film festival started on August 30 and ended on September 10 with the participation of many international movies including some by Moroccan filmmakers.

It is the world’s oldest film festival which makes every edition, prestigious and unique.

‘Les Miens’ by Frech-Moroccan director Roshdy Zem participated in the official Venice competitions running against movies like Bones and All by Italian director Luca Guadagnino and Blonde by Andrew Dominik.

The movie tells the story of Moussa, a kind and selfless man who is nothing like his brother Ryad, a high-profile TV presenter who is widely criticized for his egocentricity by those around him. Moussa admires his brother greatly which is why takes his defense. An accidental fall leaves Moussa with serious brain trauma. Now unrecognizable, he talks without any filter, delivering brutal home truths to friends and family alike, and ends up falling out with everyone, except Ryad.

The half-Moroccan director told the festival that this film is ‘his love story with his people.’

As for the critic’s week, “Queens” by Moroccan director Yasmine Benkirane took part in the competition.

Queens tells the story of 3 women chased by the police which is the beginning of their long story across the Atlas valleys to the Atlantic.

The movie’s main characters are played by Nisrin Erradi, Nisrine Benchara, and Rayhan Guaran.

The director, Yasmine, grew up on the Moroccan Atlantic coast. With experience in writing for both television and film, she made Queens her first feature film.

She is also the author of two books and history podcasts.

“The damned don’t cry” by British-Moroccan filmmaker Fyzal Boulifa debuted at the festival.

It tells the story of Fatima-Zahra and her adolescent son Salim who constatly move from place to place, forever trying to outrun whatever scandal she’s caught up in.
The two arrive in Tangier, each finding new opportunities that promise the legitimacy they crave, but not without threatening their fragile love for one another.

The Venice film festival was first founded back in August 1932 by the national fascist party as a part of the Venice Biennale, one of the world’s oldest exhibitions of art.

Moroccan singer Manal Benchlikha was invited to the event and represented Morocco with her presence.

In the 2020’s edition, Moroccan actress and singer Khansa Batma won the best actress at the festival for her role in Zanka Contact, one of the 6 Arab movies in the festival that year.