A theatre director and actor, Faouzi Bensaïdi directed his first multi-award-winning short film, The Cliff, in 1997. He then co-wrote Far with André Téchiné. In 2000, Bensaïdi directed two short films: Le Mur, presented at the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes, and The Rain Line, which won an award at the Venice International Film Festival. His first feature-length film, A Thousand Months (2003), received two awards when it was presented in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes. His following films were selected for prestigious festivals: WWW - What a Wonderful World (2006) played at Venice; Death for Sale (2011) won the Art Cinema Award at the Berlin International Film Festival; and Volubilis (2017), which was selected for Venice Days and won seven awards at the Tangier National Film Festival. Deserts (2023), his latest feature film, was selected for the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes.
In the Moroccan city of Meknes, newlyweds Abdelkader and Malika struggle to make ends meet. They dream of leaving the family house and at last starting a life of their own together. But, one day at work, Abdelkader experiences a violent incident that will turn the couple’s destiny upside down.
Director Faouzi Bensaïdi
Producer Saïd Hamich Benlarbi
Screenwriter Faouzi Bensaïdi
Cinematographer Marc-André Batigne
Production Designer Donat Massoni
Editor Maxime Garault
Sound Patrice Mendez, Alexis Meynet, Samuel Aichoun
Music Mike, Fabien Kourtzer
Colour Colour
Production Company Barney Production
International Sales Company Doc & Film International
Founded by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in July 2002, the Marrakech International Film Festival Foundation is a non-profit organization of public interest.
Presided over by His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid, the Foundation has as its primary objective the organisation of the Marrakech International Film Festival and any related events, all of which aim to encourage the creation, promotion, and distribution of works of cinema throughout the Kingdom of Morocco and around the globe.
Founded by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in July 2002, the Marrakech International Film Festival Foundation is a non-profit organization of public interest.
Presided over by His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid, the Foundation has as its primary objective the organisation of the Marrakech International Film Festival and any related events, all of which aim to encourage the creation, promotion, and distribution of works of cinema throughout the Kingdom of Morocco and around the globe.