The film is produced by Ali n’ Productions in Morocco, Les Films du Nouveau Monde in France, Velvet in Belgium and Snowglobe in Denmark.
Moroccan filmmaker and actress Maryam Touzani’s acclaimed Arabic-language film, The Blue Caftan, has surpassed the 500,000 ticket mark worldwide. Unifrance, the French promotion organisation, reported that this achievement sets a new record for overseas admissions for any recent Moroccan film. The movie, which made its world premiere at Cannes in 2022 and secured the Fipresci prize, has garnered widespread acclaim and popularity.
Notably, The Blue Caftan found significant success in France, leading international sales with 214,000 admissions. Following closely behind are strong performances in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and Japan, according to a report by Variety.
The film’s narrative unfolds in the heart of one of Morocco’s oldest medinas, where Halim and Mina manage a traditional caftan store. Faced with the challenges of a demanding clientele, they enlist a talented young apprentice. As the story progresses, Mina discovers the depth of her husband Halim’s emotions towards the new hire, unravelling the couple’s long-held secret—Halim’s concealed homosexuality.
Produced by Ali n’ Productions in Morocco, Les Films du Nouveau Monde in France, Velvet in Belgium, and Snowglobe in Denmark, the film boasts a cast featuring Lubna Azabal, Saleh Bakri, and newcomer Ayoub Messioui.
The Blue Caftan made history by becoming the first Moroccan film ever shortlisted for the Oscars. Its journey includes winning over 45 awards at major international festivals, including a shared jury prize with “Alma Viva” at the Marrakech International Film Festival in 2022. The film also received accolades at prestigious events such as the Seattle, Chicago, Angoulême, and Göteborg festivals.
Distributed by Films Boutique across more than 30 territories, including a release in the US through Strand Releasing, The Blue Caftan continues to captivate audiences globally, marking a significant achievement for Moroccan cinema on the international stage.
