Moroccan filmmakers Ayoub Layoussifi and Zahoua Raji have won the Best Director award at the 25th Arab Film Festival Rotterdam, held in the Netherlands from May 28 to June 1, for their short film Chikha, which was shot in Azemmour, Morocco. The festival honored the two directors for «the skillful direction of the actor and the masterful creation of a fully realized world that places the viewer in a revealing play of mirrors». «Very happy and proud to receive this distinction. Thanks to the jury for these words. Thank you, Rotterdam Festival. Thanks to our friends and families who supported us», Layoussifi wrote on social media Monday. Chikha (2024) tells the story of 17-year-old Fatine from Azemmour. After completing her baccalaureate exams, Fatine faces a difficult choice: to follow her family's artistic legacy, her mother is a professional chikha, a traditional Moroccan singer and dancer, or to pursue a more conventional life with her boyfriend Youssef, who disapproves of her cultural heritage. The film reflects the deep research and personal passion of its creators. Zahoua Raji, born in Brussels to Moroccan immigrant parents, brings a rich background in makeup, costume design, photography, and fine arts. Her fascination with Moroccan chikhates led her to conduct extensive interviews and research that inspired Fatine's story. Now based in Paris, Raji co-wrote Chikha alongside Ayoub Layoussifi and Yamina Zarou. Originally from Casablanca, Ayoub Layoussifi is an accomplished actor, writer, and director trained in Paris. His diverse work includes both documentary and fiction, with acclaimed films such as Tikitat-ASoulima and Dis-moi Mohammed…. Layoussifi is also deeply involved in education, teaching cinema and theater, and mentoring students in narrative filmmaking. His collaboration with Raji on Chikha showcases their shared creative vision and personal partnership, bringing an authentic and heartfelt perspective to the film's themes.
