The feature film “Haut et Fort” by director Nabil Ayouch was screened Thursday evening in official competition, during the 74th Cannes Film Festival, at the Grand Théâtre Louis Lumière, the legendary venue of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes.
After the recent unveiling of the first images of the trailer, the screening of this feature film took place in the presence of the film crew, who climbed the stairs.
This selection is a first in the history of Moroccan cinema at the level of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, whose 74th edition of 2021 stands out as the most anticipated cinema event this year after the global health crisis.
Moroccan cinema has already participated in parallel sections of the Cannes Film Festival such as “Critics ‘week”, “Un certain regard” or “Directors’ fortnight”.
“This presence in the official competition of 2021 testifies to the growing international notoriety of Moroccan cinema and offers a chance to win a prize in the official section”, according to the Moroccan Cinematographic Center (CCM).
Produced in 2021, by Ali’n Productions (Morocco), Les Films du Nouveau Monde (France), in co-production with Unity and Ad Vitam (France), with a duration of 102 minutes, “Haut et fort” tells the story of ‘Anas, a former rapper engaged in the cultural center of a popular district of the city of Casablanca.
Encouraged by their new teacher, the young people of the center will try to free themselves from the weight of certain traditions to live their passion and express themselves through hip-hop culture.
“Haut et Fort” is a fiction in line with the work of observation and introspection close to the field that Nabil Ayouch has been carrying out for years on each of his films. An approach that he particularly likes since this last film was born with the participation of the young people of the Cultural Center “The stars of Sidi Moumen”, created by the Ali Zaoua foundation in 2014.
Directed and written by Nabil Ayouch in collaboration with Maryam Touzani, the film is a tribute to Moroccan youth. It is performed mainly by Anas Basbousi, as well as Ismail Adouab, Meriam Nakkach, Nouhaila Arif, Abdou Basbousi, Zineb Boujemaa, Soufiane Bellali, Mehdi Razzouk, Amina Kannan, Samah Barigou, Maha Menan, Marwa Kniniche, Marouaneha Bennani and Abderrahrahrahmani.
In total, 24 films are in the running for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, which will lower its curtains on July 17. They will be decided by a jury chaired by American producer, director and screenwriter Spike Lee.
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