Zakaria Atifi

Zakaria Atifi is a prominent Moroccan actor and assistant director known for his expansive career spanning both international Hollywood blockbusters and celebrated Moroccan cinema. He has established a strong presence as a versatile character actor, often appearing in prominent international productions filmed in North Africa as well as critically acclaimed indie dramas. He featured in Ridley Scott's spy thriller Body of Lies (2008) alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, the historical epic Arn: The Knight Templar (2010), and the political thriller Backstabbing for Beginners (2018). Atifi appeared in Maryam Touzani's award-winning Moroccan drama The Blue Caftan (2022), which gained global recognition at the Cannes Film Festival. Beyond his acting credits, he has worked as a second unit director and assistant director, and he directed the Moroccan film Al Matmora in 2009. Recognized as a veteran figure in Moroccan culture, he made a rare, highly celebrated public appearance on the red carpet at the Marrakech International Film Festival.