Animalia

64th TIFF: Greek Premiere

As her pregnancy approaches its end, Itto – who lives with her in-laws while her husband is away on a business trip – finds her peaceful daily life disrupted by a series of unexplained, supernatural phenomena. A gripping social allegory takes on the form of a science fiction thriller in one of the most distinctive directorial debuts of recent years, which became an instant sensation at the Sundance Film Festival, winning the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award. And whereas director Sofia Alaoui is definitely someone to watch today, she already brings us an incredible image of the future, exploring how an alien visitation in Morocco might relate to women’s emancipation. If you are curious to experience the above, all wrapped up in a captivating directorial style and outstanding sound design, among other elements, then Animalia is right up your alley.

Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.

Direction: Sofia Alaoui

Script: Sofia Alaoui

Cinematography: Noé Bach

Editing: Héloïse Pelloquet

Sound: Mariette Mathieu Goudier, Sébastien Savine

Music: Amine Bouhafa

Actors: Oumaïma Barid, Mehdi Dehbi, Fouad Oughaou

Production: Wrong Films, Srab Films, Dounia Production, Jiango Films

Producers: Margaux Lorier, Toufik Ayadi, Christophe Barral, Dounia Benjelloun Mezian, Sofia Alaoui

Co-producers: Arte France Cinéma

Costumes: Lydie Collin

Production Design: Hafid Amly

Format: DCP

Color: Color

Production Country: France, Morocco, Qatar

Production Year: 2022

Duration: 90'

Contact: Totem Films

Awards/Distinctions: World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision (Sofia Alaoui) – Sundance Film Festival (2023)

Sofia Alaoui

Born in Casablanca to a Moroccan father and a French mother, Sofia Alaoui grew up between Morocco and China. After graduating high school in Casablanca, she moved to Paris to study cinema. In 2017, she returned to Morocco to develop her own production company, Jiango Films. She has directed both documentary and fiction shorts that have been selected at many festivals. Her film,So What If the Goats Die was shot in the Atlas Mountains, featuring non-professional actors and dialogue exclusively in Tamazight. It won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020, and the César for best short fiction film in 2021. Then she directed a short film for the 20th Century Fox, The Lake, broadcast on Hulu. Animalia is her first feature film.