Maryam Touzani began her career as a journalist before transitioning into filmmaking, first gaining attention with her award-winning short films, including WHEN THEY SLEPT, and AYA GOES TO THE BEACH, both of which screened widely and collected multiple international awards. She made her feature debut with ADAM, which premiered in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard and went on to screen at major international festivals, earning over 20 awards and serving as Morocco’s official submission to the Academy Awards. Her follow-up, THE BLUE CAFTAN, further cemented her international standing. Premiering at Cannes, the film won the FIPRESCI Prize in the Un Certain Regard and picked up multiple awards globally. In parallel with her directing work, Touzani has collaborated as a screenwriter on several notable projects, including RAZZIA, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was Morocco’s Oscar submission.
CALLE MÁLAGA: Touzani returned to the festival circuit in 2025 with a feature film about an aging Spanish woman trying to hold on to her Moroccan home that premiered at the 82nd Biennale’s Orizzonti Extra Program before making its way to Toronto, opening Palm Springs, and recently screening at its namesake: Málaga.
Audience Favorite: Aside from winning Armani Beauty’s Audience Award at the Biennale, CALLE MÁLAGA has won audience awards at Denver and Mill Valley, Best Film and Best Actress for Carmen Maura at Mar del Plata, and the Dragon Award at Göteborg.
Another Oscars Submission Notch: CALLE MÁLAGA was Morocco\'s submission for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, making it Touzani’s fourth film to be sent to the Oscars.
