Mokhtar (film)

Mokhtar
Film poster
Directed byHalima Ouardiri
Written byHalima Ouardiri
Produced byHalima Ouardiri
Mila Aung-Thwin
StarringOmar Belarbi
Abdellah Ichiki
S'Fia Moussa
CinematographyDuraid Munajim
Edited byHélène Girard
Production
company
Release date
  • September 14, 2010 (2010-09-14) (TIFF)
Running time
16 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageTashelhit

Mokhtar is a Canadian short drama film, directed by Halima Ouardiri and released in 2010.[1] Shot in Morocco, the film centres on a young boy from a family of goatherds, who brings home an injured owl but must confront his superstitious father's belief that the bird is an omen of bad luck.[1] The film was based on a true story, told to Ouardiri by the handyman who worked for a family she was staying with on a trip to Morocco, about his own childhood experience.[2]

The film premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.[1] It was subsequently screened at the 2010 Vancouver International Film Festival, where Ouardiri won the award for Most Promising Director of a Canadian Short Film.[3]

The film was named to TIFF's year-end Canada's Top Ten list for 2010,[4] and was a shortlisted Jutra Award nominee for Best Live Action Short Film at the 13th Jutra Awards in 2011.[5] It was subsequently screened at the 2011 Quebec City Film Festival, where it won the People's Choice award for short films.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Bruce Kirkland, "Short film Mokhtar stands tall". Toronto Sun, September 8, 2010.
  2. ^ Wendy Dallian, "Mokhtar, an awesome little Canadian film based in Morocco". Vancouver Observer, October 11, 2010.
  3. ^ Marsha Lederman, "Villeneuve's Incendies wins Best Canadian Film at VIFF". The Globe and Mail, October 15, 2010.
  4. ^ "Canada's Top Ten for 2010". Now, December 15, 2010.
  5. ^ Marc Cassivi, "Soirée des Jutra: Incendies, favori d'un cru relevé". La Presse, February 9, 2011.
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