Achoura

This article is about the film. For the Islamic holiday, see Ashura.
Achoura
Promotional release poster by Aleksi Briclot[1]
Directed byTalal Selhami
Written by
  • Jawad Lahlou
  • Talal Selhami
  • David Villemin
Produced byLamia Chraibi
Talal Selhami
Starring
  • Younes Bouab
  • Sofiia Manousha
  • Iván González
  • Moussa Maaskri
  • Omar Lofti
CinematographyMathieu de Montgrand
Music byRomain Paillot
Release date
  • December 2018 (2018-12) (PIFFF)
Running time
90 minutes
Countries
  • Morocco
  • France
LanguagesFrench, Arabic[2]

Achoura is a 2018 Moroccan-French horror fantasy film[3][4][5] directed and co-written by Talal Selhami. Moroccan actors Omar Lotfi and Younes Bouab star alongside Sofia Manousha, Ivan Gonzalez, Mohamed Choubi, and Moussa Masskri.[6][7] The film's plot follows four childhood friends who reconnect when one of them, who disappeared 25 years prior during the Ashura holiday, re-enters their lives, leading them to confront a monstrous djinn.[8] The film is regarded as the first Moroccan fantasy film.[9][10]

Described as the first monster movie shot in Morocco,[11] Achoura premiered in December 2018 at the Paris International Fantastic Film Festival.[8][12] The film met success at the Tangier National Film Festival where it won the award for best production, and at the Film Festival of Marrakech. The film also won the grand prize at the Hard Line Festival in Germany in October 2018.[13]

  1. ^ Miska, Brad (8 April 2019). "'Achoura' is Famished and Wants to Eat the Joy of Children [Trailer]". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  2. ^ https://www.pifff.fr/2018/film-206-Achoura-en
  3. ^ https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/10/284628/moroccan-horror-film-achoura
  4. ^ https://al3omk.com/785613.html#:~:text=ويعد%20عاشوراء%20أول%20فيلم%20مغربي,وعمر%20لطفي،%20وإنتاج%20لمياء%20الشرايبي.
  5. ^ "Talal Selhami: "I really pushed the cursor to the end by forbidding myself any form of exoticism"". lesecransterribles. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  6. ^ https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/10/284628/moroccan-horror-film-achoura
  7. ^ Miska, Brad (12 November 2021). "Dark Star Acquires 'Achoura', a Creature Feature Described as 'It' Meets 'Babadook'". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  8. ^ a b Hekking, Morgan (15 October 2019). "Moroccan Horror Film "Achoura" Praised at Sitges Fantastic Film Festival". Morocco World News. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  9. ^ https://al3omk.com/785613.html#:~:text=ويعد%20عاشوراء%20أول%20فيلم%20مغربي,وعمر%20لطفي،%20وإنتاج%20لمياء%20الشرايبي.
  10. ^ https://variety.com/2019/film/festivals/arab-african-filmmakers-genre-1203428775/amp/
  11. ^ Hanley, Ken W. (28 February 2015). "Exclusive First Photos: Moroccan Monster Movie "Achoura"". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 2 May 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Achoura". Paris International Fantastic Film Festival. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  13. ^ https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/10/284628/moroccan-horror-film-achoura