Fez — Moroccan cinema took center stage at the opening of the 29th Malaga Spanish Film Festival as director Maryam Touzani presented her latest feature film “Calle Málaga” on Friday evening.
The film was screened during the festival’s opening ceremony at the Teatro Cervantes in Málaga, marking the start of the event running from March 6 to March 15.
The ceremony was attended by several officials and cultural figures, including Spain’s minister of culture, the mayor of Málaga, Morocco’s ambassador to Spain, and members of the international film community.
A story rooted in memory and Tangier
“Calle Málaga” blends elements of comedy and drama while exploring themes of memory, family, and cultural coexistence.
According to Touzani, the screenplay was shaped by personal experiences following the death of her mother. The project led her back to memories of her family and her hometown of Tangier, where a street known as “Calle Málaga” still exists today.
The film reflects the cultural diversity historically associated with Tangier, where Moroccan, Spanish, and other Mediterranean influences have coexisted for generations.
For the director, this cultural overlap forms a central part of the story’s background and emotional setting.
A cross-cultural narrative
The film follows the story of “María Ángeles,” a 79-year-old Spanish woman living alone in Tangier. Deeply attached to her home and neighborhood, she faces a turning point when her daughter arrives from Madrid with plans to sell the family apartment.
The situation creates tension between personal memory and changing realities, as the characters confront questions of heritage, identity, and belonging.
Shot in Tangier, the film portrays the city as a meeting point of cultures and generations, reflecting both its historical diversity and its evolving present.
A milestone in Touzani’s career
“Calle Málaga” marks the first film by Touzani produced in the Spanish language. The project follows two internationally recognized works in the director’s career.
Her debut feature, “Adam,” premiered in the “Un Certain Regard” section of the Cannes Film Festival.
Her second feature, “The Blue Caftan,” was screened at Cannes and the Marrakech International Film Festival and was later shortlisted for the Academy Awards.
“Calle Málaga” has already been presented at several international film festivals, including the Venice Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Mar del Plata International Film Festival.
The film was also selected as Morocco’s official submission for the Academy Awards.
Moroccan cinema gains visibility
By opening the Malaga festival with Touzani’s film, the event highlighted Morocco’s growing presence in international cinema and the increasing recognition of Moroccan filmmakers on the global festival circuit.
The screening placed Moroccan storytelling at the forefront of one of Spain’s major film festivals, reflecting the long-standing cultural and artistic connections between Morocco and Spain.
