Nabil Ayouch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1969-04-01)1 April 1969 (age 56) Paris, France |
| Occupations | Film director, producer, and screenwriter |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Notable work | Les Pierres bleues du désert (1992) |
| Spouse | Maryam Touzani |
| Father | Noureddine Ayouch [fr] |
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.
Ayouch was born in 1969 inParis, to a Moroccan father,Noureddine Ayouch [fr] and a French mother ofTunisian-Jewish descent. 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] visitingCasablanca in the summers.[3]
Ayouch cites discovering international cinema at the local cultural center, Forum des Cholettes, as inspiring his filmmaking career.[3]
Ayouch 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 Debbouze which 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 Festival for his filmAli Zaoua: Prince of the Streets.[6] Ayouch is set to produce the French-Moroccan thriller filmMirages.[7]
Ayouch's 2012 filmHorses of God is based onMahi Binebine’s novelThe Stars of Sidi Moumen. InHorses of God, Ayouch explores theradicalization that can occur from poverty and extrememachismo, alluding to the2003 Casablanca bombings. The film competed in theUn Certain Regard section 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 Beats was selected for the74th Cannes Film Festival competition.[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]
Ayouch's filmMuch Loved, which takes place inMarrakesh, caused a stir due to its unsimulated sex scenes especially the scene whereLoubna Abidar performed anunsimulatedfellatio on a man.[12] The movie was ultimately banned in Morocco.[13]
Ayouch works and lives inCasablanca.[4] He is married to fellow Moroccan filmmaker and actressMaryam Touzani.[14]
| Year | English title | Original title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | The Blue Stones of the Desert | Les Pierres bleues du désert | |
| 1997 | Mektoub | مكتوب | |
| 2000 | Ali Zaoua | Ali Zaoua, prince de la rue | |
| 2003 | A Minute of Sun Less | Une minute de soleil en moins | TV Film |
| 2007 | Whatever Lola Wants | English-language debut | |
| 2012 | Horses of God | يا خيل الله | |
| 2015 | Much Loved | الزين اللي فيك | |
| 2017 | Razzia | غزية | |
| 2021 | Casablanca Beats | علي صوتك | |
| 2024 | Everybody Loves Touda | في حب تودا | |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)| International | |
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