Nabil Ayouch

Nabil Ayouch was born April 1st 1969 in Paris. He works and lives in Casablanca and is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures, the Académie des Césars and the Arab FIlm Academy. In 1997, Nabil Ayouch directed his first feature film, MEKTOUB which, like ALI ZAOUA (2000) represented Morocco at the Oscars. Next came UNE MINUTE DE SOLEIL EN MOINS (2003) and WHATEVER LOLA WANTS (2008), produced by Pathé. His first short film, in 1992, THE BLUE ROCKS OF THE DESERT marked the discovery of Jamel Debouzze. In 1999, Nabil Ayouch founded Ali n'Productions, a company through which he helps young directors to launch their careers thanks to initiatives such as the Mohamed Reggab Award, a script and production competition for short films in 35 mm. Between 2005 and 2010, he produced 40 genre films in the framework of the Film Industry. In 2006, he launched the Meda Films Development programme - with the support of the European Union and the International Film Festival Foundation of Marrakech, a structure to accompany producers and scriptwriters from the ten countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean in the development phase of their films. Nabil Ayouch founded the G.A.R.P. (Group of Authors, Directors, Producers) in 2002 and the Moroccan Coalition for Cultural Diversity in 2003. In 2008, he participated in the creation of the Moroccan Anti- piracy Association, of which he is president. In 2011, he released his first documentary feature film, MY LAND, which was filmed in the Middle East. In 2012, Nabil Ayouch finished HORSES OF GOD, inspired by the Casablanca suicide bombings of May 16th 2003. In early 2014, he opened with the Ali Zaoua Foundation - which he chairs - a Cultural Center for young people in the outskirts of Sidi Moumen, from which the suicide bombers who committed the attacks of May 16, 2003, originated in Casablanca. To date, more than 1,000 children and adolescents are registered at the Center "Les étoiles de Sidi Moumen" and come to learn all forms of artistic expression. Followed by centers in Tangiers, Agadir, Fez, and soon Marrakech in 2021. In May 2015, his film "MUCH LOVED" was selected at the Cannes Festival, at the Directors' Fortnight. In September, he won the Valois d'Or and the Valois for best actress in Angoulême. Banned in Morocco, distributed in France by Pyramide and sold internationally by Celluloïd Dreams, "Much Loved" is released in around twenty countries and is acquired by Netflix for the US and several countries. He collected 12 international prizes and reached 280,000 admissions in France. In 2016, Nabil Ayouch shot "RAZZIA" and created a second cultural center in Tangier with his Foundation. In 2017/2018, Razzia makes its world premiere in Toronto on Platform. It has won around ten international awards, is widely sold around the world, particularly in the US where it is distributed by Amazon. In France, it was released by Ad Vitam and totaled 175,000 admissions. In 2019, Nabil Ayouch produced the film "ADAM", directed by Maryam Touzani, which premiered at the Cannes Festival (Un Certain Regard), has won 23 awards to date, with public and critical success in many countries. In France, it was released by Ad Vitam and reached 92,000 admissions. Also in 2019, Nabil Ayouch created a third cultural center with the Ali Zaoua Foundation in Agadir. In 2020, he completes his latest film, "CASABLANCA BEATS" which will also be distributed by Ad Vitam.