Maghreb Arab News Agency
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the selection of the Moroccan film “The Blue of the Caftan,” directed by Maryam Touzani, as part of the shortlist for the 2023 Academy Awards revealed by the Academy.
“The Blue of the Kaftan” is the only African and Arab cinematic work that was shortlisted for the Academy Award, in the international feature film category, in this prestigious international competition, scheduled for March 12, 2023 in Hollywood.
Last September, the film “The Blue of the Caftan” was selected by a committee of Moroccan film professionals to represent the Kingdom at the Academy Awards.
On this occasion, Maryam Al-Touzani said that she is “very happy with this news, and she is honored to represent Morocco.”
For his part, the film’s producer, Nabil Ayouch, indicated that this choice is “an additional step taken by Moroccan cinema in terms of international recognition,” thanking “everyone who believed in the film, the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Moroccan Film Center and the members of the Oscars Committee who chose the film to represent our country.”
Since the name of the film appeared, for the first time, in the official selection at the “Cannes” festival, where it won the International Critics’ Award, “The Blue of the Kaftan” has been imprinted on a busy path.
It has been selected in the biggest festivals and sold in several countries, and has won 21 awards so far, including the “Jury Prize” at the 19th International Film Festival in Marrakech.
The film tells the story of the hero “Halim” and “Mina”, a married couple who own a traditional sewing shop in the city of Salé.
In order to meet the successive requests of customers, they hired the young man “Youssef”, a talented apprentice who expressed a great desire to learn the art of embroidery and sewing from the “master” Halim, to share with him his passion for sewing.