Fez — Moroccan filmmaker Jérôme Cohen-Olivar’s drama “Autisto” will arrive in cinemas across Morocco on November 4, bringing a story of motherhood, disability, and human connection to the big screen.
Produced by Zhor Fassi-Fihri through Z Films, the feature stars Loubna Abidar alongside Sam Kanater, Youssef Bouguerra Ezzina, and Sandia Tajdin.
The production team announced the nationwide release through social media, confirming screenings in Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Fez, Meknes, Oujda, Saidia, Marrakech, and other Moroccan cities.
A mother’s struggle and an unexpected encounter
The film follows Malika, a single mother raising Adam, her son who has profound autism and epilepsy.
Consumed by anxiety about her son’s future, Malika struggles with the responsibilities of caregiving, social isolation, and the fear of leaving Adam without support.
A difficult incident forces her to consider placing him in a specialized institution, confronting her with a decision that could change both their lives.
Her circumstances begin to shift when she encounters Mahmoud, a cemetery caretaker carrying his own emotional burdens.
An unexpected connection develops between Mahmoud and Adam, introducing a new dimension to a story shaped by vulnerability, fear, and the search for understanding.
According to the Moroccan Cinematheque, the relationship becomes central to the film’s exploration of human connection beyond conventional communication.
A personal story brought to the screen
Cohen-Olivar, whose previous films include “Kandisha” and “The Midnight Orchestra,” draws on his personal experience as the father of an autistic child.
The filmmaker’s biography, published by the Moroccan Cinematheque, describes “Autisto” as a particularly personal project.
The film approaches autism through the experiences of a mother and her child, examining the emotional realities of caregiving while exploring questions of social acceptance and family relationships.
Filmed in Casablanca with support from the Moroccan Cinematographic Center (CCM), the production features cinematography by Tariel Meliava, editing by Ayoub Jaddad, and music by Kenneth Lampl.
From festivals to Moroccan theaters
Before securing its national theatrical release, “Autisto” appeared at several film festivals, including the 2025 Angoulême French-Language Film Festival in France and Morocco’s National Film Festival in Tangier.
The film also featured in the official selection of Morocco’s 2025 National Film Festival, where it competed in the feature-film category.
With its November release, “Autisto” will reach a wider domestic audience, bringing renewed attention to the representation of autism and the experiences of families navigating disability in Moroccan society.
