Nabil Ayouch
Nabil Ayouch is known for The Blue Caftan (2023), Much Loved (2015), Adam (2019).
Biography
Nabil Ayouch (born 1 April 1969) is a Franco-Moroccan television and film director, producer, and writer. His films have screened at international film festivals including the Cannes Film Festival and Montreal World Film Festival.
Ayouch was born in 1969 in Paris, to a Moroccan father, Noureddine Ayouch and a French mother of Tunisian-Jewish descent. His brother is fellow director Hicham Ayouch. After his parents' divorce, he spent a large part of his childhood in the suburb of Sarcelles, visiting Casablanca in the summers.
Ayouch cites discovering international cinema at the local cultural center, Forum des Cholettes, as inspiring his filmmaking career.
Ayouch started his career as a scriptwriter and director with the advertising agency Euro-RSCG. In 1992, he directed Les Pierres bleues du désert, a first short film with Jamel Debbouze which tells the history of a young man convinced that there are large blue stones in the desert.
In 1993, Ayourch ended up settling in Casablanca, where he directed two short films, Hertzienne Connexion (1993) and Vendeur de silence (1994), for which he received international recognition.
In 1997, Ayouch directed his first feature film Mektoub, which represented Morocco at the Oscars. He also directed the feature films Une Minute de soleil en moins (2003) and Whatever Lola Wants (2008), produced by Pathé.
In 1999, Ayouch created a production company called Ali n'Productions to aid aspiring young directors in establishing their careers. He won the Ecumenical Award in 2000 in the Montreal World Film Festival for his film Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets. Ayouch is set to produce the French-Moroccan thriller film Mirages.
Ayouch's 2012 film Horses of God is based on Mahi Binebine’s novel The Stars of Sidi Moumen. In Horses of God, Ayouch explores the radicalization that can occur from poverty and extreme machismo, alluding to the 2003 Casablanca bombings. The film competed in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. It was also Morocco's submission for the 85th Academy Awards (held in February 2013).
In 2021, Ayouch's film Casablanca Beats was selected for the 74th Cannes Film Festival competition.
In February 2025, Ayouch joined the competition jury at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, presided over by Todd Haynes.
Ayouch is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures, the Académie des Césars, and the Arab Film Academy.
Ayouch's film Much Loved, which takes place in Marrakesh, caused a stir due to its unsimulated sex scenes especially the scene where Loubna Abidar performed an unsimulated fellatio on a man. The movie was ultimately banned in Morocco.
Ayouch works and lives in Casablanca. He is married to fellow Moroccan filmmaker and actress Maryam Touzani.
Source: Article "Nabil Ayouch" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.
Questions about Nabil Ayouch
How many Nabil Ayouch films are in the catalogue?
The CineQuiz catalogue has 11 films with Nabil Ayouch, from 1992 to 2025.
What is the best rated Nabil Ayouch film?
The best rated Nabil Ayouch film in the catalogue is The Blue Caftan (2023), rated 7.2.
What was the first Nabil Ayouch film?
The first Nabil Ayouch film in the catalogue is Horses of God, from 2013.
Who has Nabil Ayouch worked with the most?
In the catalogue, Nabil Ayouch shares the most credits with Virginie Surdej (4 films), Maryam Touzani (3 films) and Damien Keyeux (2 films).
People data: TMDb.
Known for
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7.2 The Blue Caftan
2023
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6.0 Much Loved
2015
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7.5 Calle Malaga
2025
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7.0 Adam
2019
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6.0 Everybody Loves Touda
2024
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4.5 Casablanca Beats
2021
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7.2 Horses of God
2013
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6.1 Whatever Lola wants
2007
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6.6 Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets
2001
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7.0 The Blue Stones of the Desert
1992
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9.0 A Minute of Sun Less
2003
Full filmography
17 films — 11 in the catalogue
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6.0
Everybody Loves Touda
2024
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4.5
Casablanca Beats
2021
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6.8 Primavera em Casablanca
2017
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6.0
Much Loved
2015
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7.2
Horses of God
2013
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My Land
2011
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6.1
Whatever Lola wants
2007
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9.0
A Minute of Sun Less
2003
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6.6
Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets
2001
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6.0 مكتوب
1997
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Vendeur de silence
1994
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Hertzienne Connexion
1993
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7.0
The Blue Stones of the Desert
1992
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Cours, et sans tristesse
no date
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7.5
Calle Malaga
2025
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7.2
The Blue Caftan
2023
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7.0
Adam
2019
Series and TV shows
1 titles
9.0
People data: TMDb.
Cast
