Moroccan Director Maryam Touzani Joins the Oscar’s Academy

Rabat – This year, the Oscar’s Academy, one of the oldest and most respected Hollywood institutions, appointed 842 new members to its ranks. Half of the newly appointed members are women.

Among them is Moroccan director Maryam Touzani, whose first feature film “Adam,” was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival this year.

Of the 18 categories in the Academy, Touzani has been added to the “Screenwriters” category. As part of the role, she will be responsible for selecting the nominees and winners in the category for the upcoming Academy Awards.

She is joining three other Moroccans already in the Academy, actor Saïd Taghmaoui, director Nabil Ayouch and producer Khadija Alami.

Touzani’s film, “Adam,” spotlighted the controversial topic of unwed mothers in Morocco. The story was inspired by a pregnant woman who was going door-to-door asking for work in Touzani’s hometown of Tangier.

“In a country like mine, it’s the biggest shame for a woman to have a child out of wedlock,” said Touzani. “She doesn’t want to disappoint her parents so she cannot tell the truth.”

Touzani also explained her reasoning behind featuring taboo topics: “There is a facade that everything is all right on the outside even if people are tormented inside. It is good to let in some air and light, and people are relieved and happy things are being spoken about.”