Maryam Touzani

EARLY LIFE

Maryam Touzani was born on 17 September 1980 in Tangier, Morocco, where she spent her childhood. She later pursued university studies in London, earning a master’s degree in media communication and journalism in 2003. Passionate about writing and cinema, she returned to Morocco after her studies and began working as a journalist specializing in North African (Maghreb) cinema. She has spoken of discovering Moroccan cinema later in her youth and of the impact of films such as Nabil Ayouch’s Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets, which later connected to her personal and professional life.

CAREER

Touzani began her film career directing short films and documentaries after working as a journalist and screenwriter. Key early works: Quand ils dorment (When They Slept, 2012) – her first short fiction; won numerous international awards (including Special Jury recognition at Huesca). Sous ma peau vieille (2014) – documentary on prostitution in Morocco that later inspired the feature Much Loved. Aya va à la plage (Aya Goes to the Beach, 2015) – short about the exploitation of child domestic workers; also widely awarded. She co-wrote the screenplay for Nabil Ayouch’s Much Loved (2015, Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes) and later co-wrote Razzia (2017, Toronto International Film Festival; Morocco’s Oscar entry), in which she also acted as Salima. She co-wrote Casablanca Beats (Haut et fort, 2021, Cannes Competition) and Everybody Loves Touda (2024, Cannes Premiere). Feature films as director: Adam (2019) – her feature debut; selected for Un Certain Regard at Cannes; Morocco’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards; won multiple awards and screened widely. The Blue Caftan (Le Bleu du caftan, 2022) – selected for Un Certain Regard at Cannes, where it won the FIPRESCI Prize; shortlisted for the Academy Awards; explores themes of tradition, intimacy, and identity in a traditional caftan shop. Calle Málaga (2025) – co-production involving Morocco, France, Spain, Germany, and Belgium; centers on an elderly Spanish woman in Tangier confronting change and rediscovering life; screened at major festivals including Venice. Her work frequently addresses social issues in Moroccan society—women’s rights, unwed motherhood, child labor, sexuality, tradition versus modernity—with a sensitive, humanistic approach. She has served on the Cannes Feature Film Jury (2023) and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

PERSONAL LIFE

Touzani is married to Moroccan filmmaker and producer Nabil Ayouch. The couple met when she interviewed him as a journalist; they have since become frequent creative collaborators. They live in Morocco and have at least one son. She maintains a relatively private personal life while focusing on her creative work and social themes in her films. She has been active in advocating for women’s rights and protections related to issues such as unwed motherhood and child domestic labor in Morocco.

Maryam Touzani is regarded as one of the leading contemporary voices in Moroccan and Arab cinema. Her films have premiered and competed at major international festivals (Cannes, Toronto, Venice, and others) and have helped raise the global profile of Moroccan storytelling. She continues to write (including a novel in progress) and develop new projects while collaborating closely with her husband Nabil Ayouch. Her cinema is noted for its emotional depth, strong female characters, and commitment to portraying Moroccan society with honesty and nuance.