This 116-minute film tells the story of Nour (played by Ayoub Gretaa), a 27-year-old undocumented immigrant in Marseille. Alongside his friends, he survives through petty dealings and lives a marginal yet lively life. His encounter with Serge, a charismatic and unpredictable police officer, and Serge’s wife Noémie, turns his world upside down.
The jury for the feature fiction competition, chaired by Moroccan director Hakim Belabbes, also awarded its Special Prize jointly to “Mauvais Temps” by El Ghazouani Madane and “Everybody Loves Touda” by Nabil Ayouch. The First Work Award went to “Mauvais Temps”, while the Best Director Award was given to Saïd Hamich Benlarbi.
The Production Award went to “Le Lac bleu” by Daoud Aoulad Syad, whose writers Abdelmjid Seddati, El Houcine Chani, and Daoud Aoulad Syad also received the Screenplay Award. The Best Actor Award was presented to Abdenbi Beniwi for his role in “Mauvais Temps”, while the Best Actress Award went to Nisrine Erradi for her performance in “Everybody Loves Touda”.
As for the supporting roles, Rym Foglia was honored with the Best Supporting Actress Award for her role in “La Mer au loin”, while Omar Boularkirba received the Best Supporting Actor Award for his performance in the same film.
Nassim El Mounabbih and Saïd Radi received the Sound Award for “Everybody Loves Touda”, while the Cinematography Award went to Virginie Surdej for the same film. The Original Music Award was given to Mourad Zdaidat for “Le Lac bleu”, and the Editing Award went to Ilyas Lakhmas for “Les Commandements” by Sana Akroud, which also earned a special mention from the jury.
In the short fiction and documentary competition, the Grand Prize was awarded to “L’MINA” by Randa Maaroufi, while “Miroir à vendre” (Mirror for Sale) by Hicham Amal received the Special Jury Prize. The jury, chaired by Moroccan screenwriter and director Halima Ouardiri, gave the Screenplay Award to Ayoub Layoussifi and Zahoua Raji for “Chikha-Queen”, while “Aicha” by Sanaa El Alaoui earned a special mention.
For the feature documentary competition, the jury, chaired by Moroccan documentary filmmaker Mohamed El Aboudi, awarded the Grand Prize to “Fiers, Suspendus et Obstinés” (Proud, Suspended and Stubborn) by Mohamed Akram Nemmassi. The films “I Will Remember You” by Mohamed Rida Gueznai and “Les mille et un jours du Hajj Edmond” by Simon Bitton jointly received the Special Jury Prize. The Creation Award went to “The Departure” by Sidi Mohamed Fadel El Joummani, and a special mention was given to “Prisonniers de l’attente” by Loubna El Younssi.
In the competition for films from cinema schools and institutes in Morocco, the Grand Prize was awarded to “Les Tangérois” by Achraf El Afia. The Special Jury Prize, chaired by Moroccan director Moulay Taieb Bouhanana, went to “Le dernier silence” (The Last Silence) by Mahmoud El Asri, with a special mention for “Au gré du vent” (In the Wind’s Course) by Ines Lehaire.
The Critics’ Awards, presented by the Moroccan Association of Film Critics, went respectively to “La Mer au loin”, “The Departure”, and “Miroir à vendre”, with a special mention for “L’MINA”.
Meanwhile, the Cine-Club Awards, presented by the National Federation of Cine-Clubs of Morocco, were awarded to “Mauvais Temps”, “Brides” by Janane Fatine Mohammadi and Abdelilah Zirate, and “Fausse note” by Rachid Zaki, with a special mention for “Aicha” by Sanaa El Alaoui.
Beyond the competition, seven feature films and documentaries showcased in the Panorama section delighted film enthusiasts, including “Routini”, “Algues amères, bitter algae”, “Hadda et Krimo”, “Lbatal”, “Mahi”, “Life’s Game”, and “Lkhayma”.
The festival’s closing ceremony was marked by a heartfelt tribute to actress Fatima Attif, honoring her remarkable career and major contributions to theater, television, and cinema.
Held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the 25th edition of the Tangier National Film Festival (October 17–25) continues to serve as a national cinematic platform showcasing Moroccan film and its evolution through the presentation of the country’s latest productions.
Editorial team/le7tv