Maryam Touzani

Born in Tangier in 1980, Maryam Touzani spent her childhood in her hometown before pursuing university studies in journalism in London. Passionate about writing, she returned to Morocco after her studies and worked there as a journalist, specializing in Maghreb cinema. Quickly, she felt the need to express herself through her own films. In 2008, she wrote and directed a documentary for the first National Women's Day in Morocco, an important date for the country. Other documentaries will follow... "When they slept "(2012), her first short fiction film, will be screened and awarded at prestigious festivals around the world, winning a total of seventeen awards. In 2015, her second short film, "Aya Goes to the Beach" continued on the same path, winning fifteen awards. Thanks to the highly acclaimed "Much Loved" (2015) by director Nabil Ayouch, selected for the Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival, she deepens her experience by collaborating closely with the director, working on the development of the script and participating in the shooting at various levels. Shortly after, she co-wrote with Nabil Ayouch her last feature film, "Razzia", presented in competition at the Toronto International Film Festival and which will represent Morocco at the Oscars. In "Razzia", where she also plays one of the main roles, she finds herself on the other side of the camera for the first time. "Adam", the first fiction feature film by Maryam Touzani, will make its world premiere in the official selection at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section. The film will then be selected at renowned festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival, The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Rotterdam International Film Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, American Institute Film Fest, among others, and will win 23 awards to date. It will also be sold in over 20 countries. In 2019 Maryam becomes a member of the Academy of Oscars. The same year, "Adam" will be the official selection of Morocco for the Oscar race in the category of best foreign film.