The Golden Cave Award win at the Tangier Film Festival
I'm still absorbing the shock of winning the Golden Cave Award at the Tangier Film Festival. My producer, Arij Al Soltan, and I attended the ceremony without any expectation of winning. We had spent the day wandering through the streets of Tangier, leaving ourselves little time to change for the evening's event. We decided to quietly blend into the audience and simply enjoy the night’s festivities from afar. When our film was announced as the winner of the top prize of the evening, we were completely caught off guard. The weariness of the day vanished in an instant, replaced by disbelief.
We are deeply grateful to the festival and the jury, including Ahmed Sijilimassi, Nanako Tsukidate, Ammar Al Ibrahim, and Awat Osman Ali, for recognising our work. This award is a reflection of the collective effort of everyone who brought the film to life.
The win feels especially meaningful to me. The story is based on real events from my mother’s life, which took place in northern Morocco. Screening the film in front of a Moroccan audience filled me with a mix of pride and nerves.
Being of mixed heritage, I wanted to capture the sensory details of my summers in Morocco, from the way we shared meals to how we gathered as a family. These everyday moments and small details became central to the film’s narrative.
During the screening of my film, watching my mother’s anxiety give way to pride as the film received applause, was a moment I will never forget. As well as honouring my mother, Beneath a Mother’s Feet is also a tribute in many ways to my Moroccan heritage. When someone in the audience asked how I, seen as an outsider, had portrayed the nuances of Moroccan life so accurately and authentically, it felt like everything we had worked for had been recognised.
Winning, especially when we had not even dressed for the occasion, was a reminder of how success can surprise us when we least expect it. After our film had been announced as the winner, I was certain I had misheard and Arij had to cajole me into taking to the stage to accept the award. It was not just a personal triumph for the two of us but it felt like a vindication of my mother’s journey and all that she had endured.
Beyond the award itself, I hope the film will spark conversations and encourage audiences to reflect more deeply. It reminds me that even the smallest moments can hold deep meaning, and sharing them has the potential to create connections we never anticipate.