Rabat – Moroccan filmmaker Asmae El Moudir dedicated the esteemed Golden Star Award to King Mohammed VI at the 20th Marrakech International Film Festival.
El Moudir’s win for her film The Mother of All Lies marks a historic win for Moroccan cinema as it is the first time a Moroccan filmmaker has won the prestigious award.
During her acceptance speech, El Moudir, who also served as a screenwriter and producer, expressed her deep appreciation to King Mohammed VI during the festival’s closing ceremony.
She lauded the monarch’s pivotal role in establishing the Mohammed VI Academy of Football, recalling how the initiative supported the Atlas Lions’ 2022 World Cup historic performance.
In addition, she commended his contribution to the founding of the Marrakech International Film Festival and the Atlas Workshops, which facilitated her win, marking the first-ever Golden Star for Morocco.
El Moudir equally extended her gratitude to Prince Moulay Rachid, President of the Marrakech International Film Festival Foundation, recognizing his support for Moroccan cinema.
El Moudir was a participant in Atlas Workshops, a talent development program launched in 2018 by the Marrakech International Film Festival.
The Mother of All Lies, the film that landed her the award, is a documentary revolving around El Moudir’s search to uncover family secrets. The 96-minute Arabic-language film not only secured the prestigious Golden Star but also garnered the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival.
El Moudir was not the only Moroccan filmmaker to be awarded at the festival. Kamal Lazraq’s The Packs was jointly awarded the Jury Prize alongside Lina Soualem’s Bye Bye Tiberias from Palestine.
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