Moroccan Filmmaker Hanaël El Yousfi Brings ‘The Daughters of Abraham’ to TIFF 2026

The film is screening as part of the 51st edition of TIFF, which is currently taking place in Toronto from September 10-20.

Aya El Maguiri

September 16, 2026

Casablanca – Franco-Moroccan filmmaker Hanaël El Yousfi’s first feature “The Daughters of Abraham” is part of the official selection of Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2026, where it is having its international premiere in the Discovery program.

The film is screening as part of the 51st edition of TIFF, which is currently taking place in Toronto from September 10-20.

A friendship tested by tragedy

“The Daughters of Abraham” follows Myriam, a young Muslim woman raised in Marseille, as she reconnects with Eva, a young Jewish woman, after years apart.

The two friends reunite during the summer holidays, finding their way back to the bond they shared during adolescence. Away from the expectations of family and their wider social circles, they get the chance to reconnect and enjoy a sense of freedom.

But their carefree summer does not last. An unexpected tragedy disrupts their reunion and forces the two women to confront the differences, beliefs, and social pressures surrounding them.

At the heart of the film is the relationship between Myriam and Eva, with their respective religious and cultural backgrounds shaping the way they understand themselves and each other.

The story also looks at how larger social and political tensions can enter even the most personal relationships.

El Yousfi’s feature debut

“The Daughters of Abraham” marks El Yousfi’s first feature film after her 2021 short “Mazel Brouk,” which also explored relationships between women from different cultural and religious backgrounds.

The 94-minute French production stars Mélissa Guers, Ava Baya, and Gabrielle Cohen, alongside Bilel Chegrani and Syrus Shahidi. The film is presented in French and Arabic.

The feature has already picked up recognition ahead of its Toronto run.

At the 2026 Festival du Film Francophone d’Angoulême, El Yousfi’s film received the Audience Award, while its three leading actresses received a special mention.

Now, with its international premiere at TIFF, “The Daughters of Abraham” is bringing El Yousfi’s intimate story of friendship, identity, and cultural ties to one of the year’s major international film gatherings.