Rabat – The Moroccan film The Blue Caftan or Le Bleu du Caftan directed by Maryam Touzani has made it onto the Oscars shortlist.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced a shortlist across 10 categories on Wednesday.
The categories include documentary feature film, documentary short film, and international feature film among others.
Touzani’s Blue Caftan has become the only Arab and African film to feature in the Oscars shortlist.
Alongside Touzani’s movie, 14 other international films were also on the shortlist competing in the nternational feature film category.
Commenting on the achievement, Touzani said she is “immensely happy with this news and honored to be able to represent Morocco.”
Fellow Moroccan filmmaker and Touzani’s husband, Nabil Ayouch produced the movie.
Expressing satisfaction with the Oscars’ decision to include the Blue Caftan in the shortlist, Ayouch said: “It is an additional step that Moroccan cinema has taken in terms of international recognition. We thank all those who believed in the film, the Ministry of Culture, the CCM, the commission of the aid fund as well as the members of the Oscar commission who chose the film to represent our country.”
The Blue Caftan stars Saleh Bakri, Lubna Azabal, and Ayoub Missioui.
The film tells the story of characters Halim and Mina, a couple who own a caftan store in the medina of Sale, near Rabat.
The Blue Caftan made its entry to the international feature film category in September 2022.
The movie received criticism as it also tackles the topic of homosexuality.
Halim, the star of the movie, explores his homosexuality after developing feelings for an employee at the couple’s traditional caftan shop.
The Blue Caftan won the international critics prize at the 75th Cannes Film Festival and the best director and actor awards at the Angouleme Francophone Film Festival in France.
