Animalia, a cinematic gem, made its mark at the Sundance Film Festival 2023, clinching the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award. Notably, this was the first feature film directed by the talented Sofia Alaoui, marking a significant milestone in her career.

The film stars Oumaima Barid, Mehdi Dehbi, and Fouad Oughaou.

Here is the official synopsis:

Itto, a young woman from a modest rural background, is slowly adapting to the Moroccan privileged codes of her husband’s family. But when supernatural events put the country in a state of emergency, Itto finds herself separated from her husband and new family. Alone, pregnant and looking for her way back, she finds emancipation.

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LRM Online’s Gig Patta spoke with director Sofia Alaoui via telephone. We discussed the story’s origins, Morocco’s locations, culture, and the role of religion in the film.

Sofia Alaoui directed many short films that included Children of Nablus, Ghost Mode, and So What If the Goats Die. The short film So What If the Goats Die was the basis for her feature film directorial debut with Animalia. Also, she directed the short The Lake for the Hulu horror anthology series Bite Size Halloween.

Animalia is available On Demand and digitally on Tuesday, June 18.

Watch the exclusive interview with Sofia Alaoui below. Let us know what you think of the interview.

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Source: LRM Online Exclusive, Totem Films