The feature film “Haut et Fort” by director Nabil Ayouch was screened on Saturday evening in official competition, during the 27th edition of the Med Film festival which takes place from November 5 to 14 in Rome.
Produced in 2021 by Ali’n Productions (Morocco), Films du Nouveau Monde (France) in co-production with Unity and Ad Vitam (France), lasting 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.
Through this joyful hymn to youth, with musical comedy accents, Anas, the main character, supervises a slew of young people, girls and boys, for whom rap is a vital passion. “The film reflects an energy of Moroccan youth which expresses their needs in a way full of positivity through song and dance,” director Nabil Ayouch told MAP, estimating that “the Sidi Moumen district is full of young people. talents who seek to make their voices, aspirations and dreams heard with beautiful manners ”.
“This district where I created the Ali Zaoua Foundation in 2009 never ceases to inspire me,” he said with great emotion.
“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.
This feature film has been interpreted 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 Knaniiche, Marou Bennane Abderahaman Errahmani.
This film, which was chosen to represent Morocco in the 2022 Oscars preselection in the Best International Film section, won the Positive Cinema Prize at the 74th Cannes Film Festival. Nabil Ayouch also received the Best Achievement in Cinema award, recognition for his entire career, which was awarded to him by the humanitarian organization Union-Life International.
In addition, the director welcomed the choice of the Kingdom as guest of honor at this edition of Med film, stressing that “Moroccan cinema continues to develop thanks to a young vision, traveling to major international festivals. “.
The screening of the film, which was very popular with the Italian public, took place in the presence of the Moroccan Ambassador to Italy, Youssef Balla, and the Ambassador of the Kingdom to the Holy See, Rajae Naji Mekkaoui.
The kickoff of the 27th edition of the Med Film festival was given on Friday evening in Rome, with Morocco as guest of honor. On the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the Med Film festival, a vibrant tribute was paid to Moroccan director Faouzi Bensaidi by awarding him the “Premio alla carriera” career prize.
The films “Jmar” by Samy Sidali and “Le Départ” by Saïd Hamich Benlarbi will, for their part, be in competition for the international short film prize.
As part of the homage to the Kingdom, several Moroccan short films will be screened throughout the festival. These include “Aya Goes to the Beach” by Maryam Touzani, “Bout-à-bout” by Asmae El Moudir, “Mutts” by Halima Ouardiri and “Valse avec Asmahane” by Samia Charkioui.
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