Lugano – Moroccan artist Meriem Bennani will be featured in a dedicated program at the Visions du Réel International Film Festival, which runs from April 17-26, in Nyon, Switzerland.
The festival will host the Swiss premiere of her hybrid film “Bouchra,” co-directed with Orian Barki.
On April 24, Bennani will talk about her work and present several of her films and video projects., joined by artist and filmmaker Valentin Noujaïm.
Through this program, the festival highlights artists who continue to expand the possibilities of documentary film and contemporary visual storytelling.
International screening
The film has also received attention on the international festival circuit. “Bouchra” premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where the 83-minute animated feature became the first animated film nominated for the Platform Prize.
In October, “Bouchra” also participated in the Chicago International Film Festival 2025 and was screened at the La Roche-sur-Yon International Film Festival.
The film was later presented in December at the Singapore International Film Festival 2025, as part of the Undercurrent section, with a screening at the Oldham Theatre in Singapore.
The film continued its run earlier this year at the 49th Göteborg Film Festival in January, where it received the Ingmar Bergman Debut Award, recognizing the best first feature film presented at the Swedish festival.
The artist behind ‘Bouchra’
Born in Rabat, Morocco, Bennani works across multiple media including video, sound, animation, sculpture, and immersive installations.
Known for her experimental approach, Bennani’s work often combines humor, pop-culture references, and digital aesthetics to explore themes such as identity, migration, and contemporary culture.
Her projects frequently merge documentary elements with animation and digital imagery to create visually playful yet socially engaged narratives.
Bennani has also received recognition within the international art world.
In December 2025, she received the inaugural BOSS Award for Outstanding Achievement at the Art Basel Awards Night in Miami Beach, honoring artists whose work demonstrates cultural impact and originality.
The award includes a $100,000 ((MAD 1,100,000) prize, part of which supports a new artistic project while the remainder is dedicated to a community initiative chosen by the artist.
