The film, directed by Walid Messnaoui, has won nine awards to date.
Moroccan short film No Key, directed by Walid Messnaoui, won the Best Director Award at the International Festival of Independent Cinema of Casablanca (FICIC) and raised the tally of its international awards to nine.
Previously, No Key won eight awards at four film festivals, including Best Crime Short (Outstanding Achievement Award) at the Indie Short Fest – Los Angeles International Film Festival, Best Actor at the Korea International Film Festival, and Best First-Time Short Film at the Boden International Film Festival.
Walid Messnaoui said: “I am very proud, happy, and thankful for the FICIC after the film’s Moroccan premiere and first award in its home country. This, I think, is just the beginning.”
The film follows a young burglar named Amine, who in his desperate hunt for a way out of his gloomy existence on the rough streets of Casablanca discovers a sealed jewellery box that represents his ticket to a brighter future in Europe.
However, when other gangs find out what’s in his possession, he must brave their treacherous terrain and face his own demons to keep his dream alive.
The cast includes Rabii Glim, Ismail Elfallahi, Salah Ben Saleh, and Hasan Badidah.
Hailing from Casablanca, Walid Messnaoui earned his degree in directing and editing from ESAV film school in Marrakech.
While pursuing his master’s degree in editing in 2015, he directed Six and Zero — a documentary that garnered acclaim and was selected by numerous international festivals, including the Malmö Arab Film Festival.
