‘Queer’ Review: Daniel Craig is Perfect and Drew Starkey is Revelatory in Luca Guadagnino’s Gay Chiaroscuro of Dreams and Desperation | Venice
Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, adapted from William S. Burroughs’ novel, opens with a nostalgic nod to Call Me By Your Name, using a splashy blue font... Read More
Ali Benzekri
A devoted cinephile, Ali started his career as Communication and Ditribution Manager at Ali n' Productions (Ali Zaoua, Casablanca Beats, Blue Caftan). He followed that resourceful experience by taking on the job of Head of Archives at the Cinémathèque de Tanger. Since 2021, Ali has been running a specialized film program on Radio 2M, one of the leading radio channels in Morocco. He is currently in the process of launching the Filmothèque, a traveling cinema project aimed at showing independent and classic films in Morocco in creative fashion. He writes about films in English and French Lioumness, International Cinephile Society and TelQuel.
‘The Room Next Door’ Review: Pedro Almodóvar’s Rumination on Death is an Actress Extravaganza for Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore | Venice
It took two powerhouse actresses, a story about death, and the lure of a bold new challenge to finally coax Pedro Almodóvar into making his... Read More
‘Babygirl’ Review: Nicole Kidman is Feral and Fearless as a Woman Taking Charge of Her Sexual Freedom | Venice
This is a film about sex! From the first moments, as the logos of production companies flash on the screen, we’re immersed in a world... Read More
‘To a Land Unknown’ Review: Mahdi Fleifel’s Thriller about Stranded Palestinian Refugees is Powerful and Unpretentious | Cannes
Mahdi Fleifel’s directorial debut in fiction, To a Land Unknown, follows the harrowing journey of Chatila (Mahmood Bakri) and Reda (Aram Sabbah), two Palestinian cousins... Read More
‘Everybody Loves Touda’ Review: Nisrine Erradi’s Nuanced Performance Elevates Nabil Ayouch’s Return to Form | Cannes
For over two decades, Nabil Ayouch has been a dominant force in Moroccan cinema, crafting films that have garnered both critical acclaim and international recognition.... Read More
‘Emilia Pérez’ Review: Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Karla Sofía Gascón are Sensational in Delightfully Unhinged Jacques Audiard Musical | Cannes
It is hard to put Jacques Audiard in one mold. The French director keeps tackling different genres without ever giving you a hint of what... Read More
‘Three Kilometers to the End of the World’ Review: Emanuel Pârvu Examines Homophobia in a Small Romanian Town | Cannes
Romanian cinema has carved a significant niche in international film topography through its strong ties with the Festival de Cannes. Renowned filmmakers such as Cristian... Read More
Interview: 2023 Cannes Film Festival winning-director Asmae El Moudir on her new film ‘The Mother of All Lies’
Asmae El Moudir is one of Morocco’s freshest new voices in cinema today. Last month, she made history in Cannes by taking home the directing... Read More
‘Last Summer’ review: Catherine Breillat grounds her provocative romance with truth and a staggering performance from Léa Drucker | Cannes
For her first feature film in over 10 years, Catherine Breillat made the surprising choice of adapting Queen of Hearts, May El Toukhy’s Danish provocative... Read More
‘Kadib Abyad (The Mother of All Lies)’ review: Asmae El Moudir stunningly recreates a buried Moroccan past | Cannes
Over the last few years, a strong ascension of Moroccan cinema started taking shape on an international scale, with the effective participation of major fresh... Read More
2025 Oscar Predictions: BEST ACTRESS (November) 
‘Sugarcane,’ ‘Soundtrack to A Coup d’Etat’ Lead 40th IDA Documentary Awards Nominations 
AwardsWatch Partners with Vision Media to Revolutionize the Awards Season Experience 
Interview: ‘The Substance’ Special Makeup Effects Designer Pierre-Olivier Persin on Transforming Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley into a Funhouse of Horror and Using 4,000 Gallons of Blood