Nabil Ayouch's latest film Everybody Loves Touda had its world premiere on Friday evening at the 77th Cannes Film Festival (May 14-25, 2024), where cinema worked its magic on an admiring audience. Shown in the Cannes Première category, it received a standing ovation at the end. Actress Nisrine Erradi, who plays the main character, showcased her singing talent by performing a live excerpt of aïta music. In the film, Touda dreams of becoming a chikha. Every evening in the bars of her small provincial town, she sings ancestral texts of resistance, love and emancipation, with the hope of a better future for herself and her son. She then decides to leave everything behind to live and shine in Casablanca. «It's with immense pleasure and unrivalled pride that I present my latest film at Cannes with the great Nisrine Erradi, who gives an incredible performance as a chikha. We're very proud to be able to raise the Moroccan flag high in Cannes, and we're delighted to share with the Cannes and international audiences here the heritage of the chikhates and this magnificent tradition that is the aita, and to restore the chikhates to their deserved status as great artists», said Nabil Ayouch. Weaving romance with poignant moments, the film explores universal themes of love, family, and identity, creating an immersive and unforgettable cinematic experience. The cast includes Joud Chamihy, Jalila Talemsi and guest stars Amine Ennaji, Abdellatif Chaouqi, Abderrahim Elmaniari, Mounia Lamkimel and Abdelilah Rachid. Produced by Ali'n Productions (Morocco), in co-production with Les Films du Nouveau Monde (France), Velvet Films (Belgium), SnowGlobe (Denmark), Viking Film (Netherlands) and Staer (Norway), this opus is sold abroad by MK2 International and distributed in France by Ad Vitam. It will make its next national release in Moroccan cinemas.
