Born in Tangier, Maryam Touzani spent her childhood in her hometown before pursuing university studies in journalism in London. Passionate about writing, she returned to Morocco after her studies and worked as a journalist, specializing in Maghreb cinema. Quickly, she felt the need to express herself through her own films.
In 2008, she wrote and directed “When they sleep” (2012), her first fiction short film, which was screened and awarded at prestigious festivals around the world, winning a total of seventeen awards. In 2015, her second short film, “Aya Goes to the Beach”, continued on the same path, winning fifteen awards. Thanks to the highly acclaimed “Much Loved” (2015) by director Nabil Ayouch, she deepened her experience, working on screenplay development and participating in filming at various levels. She then co-wrote with Nabil Ayouch her feature film “Razzia”.
“Adam”, Maryam Touzani's first feature film, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section. The film was subsequently selected at renowned festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival. The film won 30 awards and was sold in over 20 countries. In 2019, Maryam became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. That same year, “Adam” was Morocco's official selection for the Oscars.
In 2022, she directed “The Blue of the Caftan”. The film was selected at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section and won the FIPRESCI Prize for International Critics. Representing Morocco at the Oscars, it marked the first time in Morocco's history that a film was shortlisted among the 15 best foreign films. Winning more than 60 awards worldwide, the film was sold in over 30 countries and became the biggest success for a Moroccan film globally, with more than 500,000 admissions.
In 2024, Maryam Touzani is working on her next feature film, “Calle Malaga”, which will be set in Tangier and in Spanish.