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BEHIND THE PALM TREES successfully world premieres at Marrakech International Film Festival
01 December 2025
The world premiere of Meryem Benm’Barek’s highly anticipated feature BEHIND THE PALM TREES captivated audiences at the 22nd Marrakech International Film Festival (Nov 28th-Dec 6th), drawing a full house and receiving warm applause and a standing ovation, with Benm’Barek joined by the cast introducing the film before the screening.
The event marked a triumphant return for Benm’Barek, whose debut SOFIA won the Best Screenplay Award at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard in 2018.
An extensive co-production involving France, Morocco, Belgium, and Qatar, along with Tessalit Productions and Furyo Films, in association with MAD Solutions, BEHIND THE PALM TREES is set in Tangier, where Mehdi's relationship with Selma is shaken when he meets Marie, a wealthy French girl. Drawn to her glamorous lifestyle, he begins to neglect Selma, pretending not to see that his choices will catch up with him.
Written and directed by Meryem Benm’Barek, the film is produced by Jean Bréhat (WEST BEIRUT) and Emma Binet (THE INSULT), shot by Son Doan (VIET AND NAM), and edited by Christel Dewynter (HIPPOCRATES: DIARY OF A FRENCH DOCTOR). MAD Distribution handles the film’s distribution across the Arab World.
The film stars Sara Giraudeau (THE BUREAU), Driss Ramdi (ESCAPE FROM RAQQA), Nadia Kounda (RALTAT), Carole Bouquet (THE OBSCURE OBJECT OF DESIRE), and Olivier Rabourdin (TAKEN).
Previously, BEHIND THE PALM TREES received funding from the Doha Film Institute and made its way to the Atlas Workshops and the Red Sea Souk, where MAD Solutions awarded it with its coveted Distribution Prize, offering distribution, sales, and marketing services valued at $50,000.
Meryem Benm’Barek was born in Rabat, Morocco, and grew up between Morocco, France, and Belgium. In 2010, she joined a directing program in Belgium’s INSAS, where she directed several short films, including JENNAH, which was selected for several international festivals and shortlisted for the 2015 Oscars.
Her debut feature SOFIA (2018) won the Best Screenplay Award at the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard before garnering several international awards, including the New Voices/New Visions Grand Jury Prize at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
The event marked a triumphant return for Benm’Barek, whose debut SOFIA won the Best Screenplay Award at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard in 2018.
An extensive co-production involving France, Morocco, Belgium, and Qatar, along with Tessalit Productions and Furyo Films, in association with MAD Solutions, BEHIND THE PALM TREES is set in Tangier, where Mehdi's relationship with Selma is shaken when he meets Marie, a wealthy French girl. Drawn to her glamorous lifestyle, he begins to neglect Selma, pretending not to see that his choices will catch up with him.
Written and directed by Meryem Benm’Barek, the film is produced by Jean Bréhat (WEST BEIRUT) and Emma Binet (THE INSULT), shot by Son Doan (VIET AND NAM), and edited by Christel Dewynter (HIPPOCRATES: DIARY OF A FRENCH DOCTOR). MAD Distribution handles the film’s distribution across the Arab World.
The film stars Sara Giraudeau (THE BUREAU), Driss Ramdi (ESCAPE FROM RAQQA), Nadia Kounda (RALTAT), Carole Bouquet (THE OBSCURE OBJECT OF DESIRE), and Olivier Rabourdin (TAKEN).
Previously, BEHIND THE PALM TREES received funding from the Doha Film Institute and made its way to the Atlas Workshops and the Red Sea Souk, where MAD Solutions awarded it with its coveted Distribution Prize, offering distribution, sales, and marketing services valued at $50,000.
Meryem Benm’Barek was born in Rabat, Morocco, and grew up between Morocco, France, and Belgium. In 2010, she joined a directing program in Belgium’s INSAS, where she directed several short films, including JENNAH, which was selected for several international festivals and shortlisted for the 2015 Oscars.
Her debut feature SOFIA (2018) won the Best Screenplay Award at the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard before garnering several international awards, including the New Voices/New Visions Grand Jury Prize at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
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