Hicham Ayouch is a Franco-Moroccan filmmaker, writer, and multidisciplinary artist whose work spans cinema, literature, music, and visual art. Born in France and rooted in Morocco, Ayouch explores themes of identity, exile, social marginality, and inner rebellion through a bold, poetic, and humanist lens.
After working as a journalist and documentary filmmaker, he made his mark in fiction with a unique voice that defies cinematic conventions. His films often blend realism with lyricism, combining social commentary with intimate, emotionally charged narratives.
His 2014 feature Fevers (Fièvres), a haunting portrait of a troubled father-son relationship in the Parisian suburbs, won the Étalon d’or (Golden Stallion) at FESPACO, Africa’s most prestigious film festival. The film was widely acclaimed for its powerful performances and unflinching look at broken family ties and urban violence.
Ayouch’s body of work includes short films, feature-length documentaries, and fiction films that have been screened at international festivals such as Cannes, Dubai, Marrakech, and Carthage, often provoking strong reactions for their raw authenticity and emotional depth.
In 2023, his film Abdelinho was released on Netflix, bringing his offbeat vision to a wider audience. Mixing satire, tenderness, and absurdity, the film tells the story of a Moroccan man obsessed with Brazilian telenovelas, navigating love and freedom in a conservative town.
Beyond cinema, Ayouch is a poet and lyricist. He is the co-founder of Les Barons de Baltimore, a poetic and musical ensemble blending slam, jazz, and North African rhythms. His literary and visual work continues to push boundaries, giving voice to the silenced and the invisible.
Hicham Ayouch stands as a singular voice in contemporary Arab and African cinema — rebellious, spiritual, and fiercely committed to artistic freedom.
