Experimental Documentary Workshop with Ali Essafi and Touda Bouanani Event

Description

Experimental filmmaker Ali Essafi (Crossing the Seventh Gate, Ourzazate) and artist Touda Bouanani (Fragments de Memoires, Une Personne) will lead a workshop on experimental documentary filmmaking.

One of Morocco’s most important documentary filmmakers and video artists, Ali Essafi’s films chronicle his homeland with precision and empathy. His films have won many awards and have screened in prestigious locations like the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Archival materials often form the basis of his work. In a country where almost no archives are accessible to the public, the importance of this achievement on an artistic, art historical, and political level cannot be underestimated.

Touda Bouanani’s work, mainly in video but also photography, installation, and works on paper, is characterised by a dialogue between poetic text and image. Her practice feeds on intimate and familial references, everyday objects and children, referring to universal themes such as beauty, solitude and love. Essafi’s film on Bouanani’s father solidified their artistic relationship. Their interactive presentation will be accompanied by clips from their work. This is a rare opportunity to learn from two of the most interesting experimental filmmakers working in Morocco today.

This event is kindly sponsored by the University of Exeter and the AHRC.

 

---

Included Films

• La Septieme Porte (Crossing the Seventh Gate) - UK Premiere