Nabil Ayouch(born 1 April 1969) is a Franco-Moroccan television and film director, producer, and writer. His films have been screened at international film festivals including the Cannes Film Festival and Montreal World Film Festival.
Nabil Ayouch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1 April 1969 Paris,France |
| Nationality | Moroccan |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, producer, and screenwriter |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Notable work | Les Pierres bleues du désert (1992) |
| Spouse | Maryam Touzani |
| Father | Noureddine Ayouch |
Early life
editAyouch was born in 1969 inParis,to a Moroccan father,Noureddine Ayouchand a French mother ofTunisian-Jewishdescent. His brother is fellow director Hicham Ayouch. After his parents' divorce, he spent a large part of his childhood in the suburb ofSarcelles,[1][2]visitingCasablancain the summers.[3]
Ayouch cites discovering international cinema at the local cultural center, Forum des Cholettes, as inspiring his filmmaking career.[3]
Film career
editAyouch started his career as a scriptwriter and director with the advertising agency Euro-RSCG. In 1992, he directedLes Pierres bleues du désert,a first short film withJamel Debbouzewhich tells the history of a young man convinced that there are large blue stones in the desert.
In 1993, Ayourch ended up settling inCasablanca,where he directed two short films,Hertzienne Connexion(1993) andVendeur de silence(1994), for which he received international recognition.
In 1997, Ayouch directed his first feature filmMektoub,which represented Morocco at the Oscars. He also directed the feature filmsUne Minute de soleil en moins(2003) andWhatever Lola Wants(2008), produced by Pathé.[4]
In 1999, Ayouch created a production company called Ali n'Productions to aid aspiring young directors in establishing their careers.[1][5][4]He won the Ecumenical Award in 2000 in theMontreal World Film Festivalfor his filmAli Zaoua: Prince of the Streets.[6]Ayouch is set to produce the French-Moroccan thriller filmMirages.[7]
Ayouch's 2012 filmHorses of Godis based onMahi Binebine’s novelThe Stars of Sidi Moumen.InHorses of God,Ayouch explores theradicalizationthat can occur from poverty and extrememachismo,alluding to the2003 Casablanca bombings.The film competed in theUn Certain Regardsection at the2012 Cannes Film Festival.[8][9]It was also Morocco's submission for the85th Academy Awards(held in February 2013).
In 2021, Ayouch's filmCasablanca Beatswas selected for the74th Cannes Film Festivalcompetition.[10]
In February 2025, Ayouch joined the competition jury at the75th Berlin International Film Festival,presided over byTodd Haynes.[11]
Ayouch is a member of theAcademy of Motion Pictures,the Académie des Césars, and the Arab Film Academy.[4]
Controversy
editAyouch's filmMuch Loved,which takes place inMarrakesh,caused a stir due to its unsimulated sex scenes especially the scene whereLoubna Abidarperformed an unsimulated fellatio on a man.[12] The movie was ultimately banned in Morocco.[13]
Personal life
editAyouch works and lives inCasablanca.[4]He is married to fellow Moroccan filmmaker and actressMaryam Touzani.[14]
Filmography
editAs director
edit- Les Pierres bleues du désert(1992)
- Mektoub(1997)
- Ali Zaoua, prince de la rue(2000) a.k.a.Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets(USA)
- Une minute de soleil en moins(2003)(TV) a.k.a.A Minute of Sun Less(International: English title)
- Whatever Lola Wants(2007)
- Horses of God(2012)
- Much Loved(2015)
- Razzia(2017)
- Casablanca Beats(2021)
- Everybody Loves Touda(2024)
As writer
edit- Les Pierres bleues du désert(1992)
- Mektoub(1997)
- Ali Zaoua, prince de la rue(2000) a.k.a.Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets(USA)
- Une minute de soleil en moins(2003) (TV) a.k.a.A Minute of Sun Less(International: English title)
- Whatever Lola Wants(2007) co-written with Jane Hawksley
- The Blue Caftan(2023) written in collaboration with Maryam Touzani
As producer
edit- 2000:Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets(associate producer)
- 2006:Tiwarga(TV Movie)
- 2006:Heart Edges
- 2008:Houti Houta(TV Movie)
- 2010:L'Equipe(The Team) (TV Series)
- 2010:Al ferka(TV Series)
- 2010:3ichk al baroud 2010(TV Movie)
- 2010:Mirages
- 2011:My Land(Documentary)
- 2011:Zinat Al Hayat(TV Series) (executive producer)
- 2012:Quand ils dorment(Short)
- 2012:Horses of God
- 2013:Une bonne leçon(TV Movie) (line producer: Morocco)
- 2013:C'est eux les chiens...
- 2015:Much Loved
- 2015:Aji-Bi(Documentary)
- 2015:All Three of Us(line producer: Morocco)
- 2015:Aya Goes to the Beach(Short)
- 2017:Pluie de sueur
- 2017:Zwaj El Waqt(TV Movie documentary)
- 2019:Wadrari(Documentary)
- 2019:Adam
- 2023:The Blue Caftan
Decorations
editFurther reading
edit- Jonathan Smolin, "Nabil Ayouch: Transgression, Identity, and Difference" in: Josef Gugler (ed.),Ten Arab Filmmakers: Political Dissent and Social Critique,Indiana University Press, 2015,ISBN978-0-253-01644-7,pp 214–244
References
edit- ^abCreutz, Norbert (2016-03-08)."Nabil Ayouch secoue le cocotier marocain".Le Temps(in French).ISSN1423-3967.Retrieved2020-08-10.
- ^Benbachir, Simo (2019-06-03)."Nabil Ayouch... le controversé".Morocco Jewish Times(in French).Retrieved2020-08-10.
- ^abElgrably, Jordan (December 2017)."Razzia: Nabil Ayouch's critical multi-threaded homage to Morocco's cultural tapestry".english.alaraby.co.uk/.Retrieved2021-06-21.
- ^abcd"Nabil Ayouch".IMDb.Retrieved2020-12-02.
- ^Goodman, Sarah (2019-03-17)."Behind the Silver Screen: A Conversation with Morocco's Nabil Ayouch".Morocco World News.Retrieved2020-08-10.
- ^AYOUCH Nabil: Réalisateur, scénaristeArchived2005-10-15 at theWayback Machine
- ^Bloody Baby a Hallucination? First Images From 'Mirages'!
- ^"2012 Official Selection".Cannes.Retrieved2012-05-19.
- ^"God's Horses: Cannes Review".Hollywood Reporter.19 May 2012.Retrieved2012-05-19.
- ^Orlando Parfitt2021-06-03T08:31:00+01:00."Cannes reveals 2021 Official Selection".Screen.Retrieved2021-06-21.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^Keslassy, Elsa (2025-01-30)."Berlin Film Festival Jury: Fan Bingbing, Nabil Ayouch, Maria Schrader and More Join President Todd Haynes".Variety.Retrieved2025-01-31.
- ^Charkioui, Samia (January 2020)."Much Loved transgressions: Morocco's reflection in the mirror of its young prostitutes".Journal of African Cinema. Volume 12.
- ^"Banning 'Much Loved' is a Sovereign Decision: Minister".
- ^"Ils font le cinéma méditerranéen: Maryam Touzani, du journalisme au cinéma".2018-03-17. Archived from the original on 2018-03-17.Retrieved2020-12-02.
- ^"Nomination dans l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres juillet 2015 - Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-04-24.Retrieved2016-01-14.
