2023 Arabic-language documentary film «The Mother of All Lies», by Moroccan director Asmae El Moudir, is among the 15 films shortlisted for the International Feature Film category for the 96th Academy Awards. «In the nominations round, Academy members from all branches are invited to opt in to participate and must view all 15 shortlisted films to vote», reads a statement by the Academy on Thursday. The Mother of All Lies tells the story of the young filmmaker Asmae, who visits her parents in Casablanca to help them move. While at home, Asmae begins sorting through the old belongings of her childhood. Suddenly, she comes across a photo that becomes the starting point of an investigation where Asmae questions all the little lies her family told her. Asmae explores the memory of her neighborhood and her country as she delves into the past. This 96-minute Arabic-language film became the first Moroccan film to win the Etoile d'Or in the history of the International Film Festival of Marrakech. Released in 2023, it also won the Best Director award in the «Un Certain Regard» section of the Cannes Film Festival. Born in Sale in 1990, Asmae El Moudir has directed documentaries for several Moroccan and foreign television channels. After several short films, she directed «La Carte postale» in 2020, selected at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) and the International Film Festival of Marrakech.
