Fez — Moroccan filmmaker Maryam Touzani’s “Calle Malaga” won the Audience Award in the Venice Spotlight section on Saturday, September 6. The honor capped a strong year for Moroccan cinema at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival.
La Biennale’s official winners list names “Calle Malaga” as the recipient of the Armani Beauty Audience Award for Venezia Spotlight, confirming converging Moroccan media reports. The film premiered in Venice Spotlight, a curated strand showcasing distinctive auteur titles alongside the main competition.
Shot in Morocco, “Calle Malaga” follows María, a 79-year-old Spaniard living alone in Tangier whose life is upended when her daughter arrives from Madrid to sell the family apartment.
Determined to remain in the city that shaped her, María fights to keep her home and the objects that hold a lifetime of memories. The 116-minute feature is Touzani’s Spanish-language debut and reunites her with producer and co-writer Nabil Ayouch.
Morocco’s footprint extended beyond the awards stage this year. For the first time, the country was elevated as Guest of Honor at the Venice Production Bridge — an industry platform spotlighting projects, financing, and co-production opportunities — where Moroccan works and incentives were showcased to international partners.
The Venice momentum now carries to North America: “Calle Malaga” is officially on the Toronto International Film Festival slate, with public screenings beginning September 9 in Toronto.
The TIFF listing describes the feature as Touzani’s third film and Spanish-language debut, following her acclaimed “The Blue Caftan” (TIFF ’22).
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