Halima Ouardiri
Directing
Biography
Ouardiri first garnered acclaim for her 2010 short film Mokhtar, which was a shortlisted Jutra Award nominee for Best Live Action Short Film at the 13th Jutra Awards in 2011, and her 2019 short film Mutts (Clebs), which won a Crystal Bear for best short film in the Generation 14Plus program at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival in 2020.
Known For
Three years in the making, this feature documentary follows the progression of the Muslim Punk scene: from its imaginary inception in a novel written by a white-convert named Michael Muhammad Knight to a full-blown, real-life scene of Muslim punk bands and their fans.
Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam
For the 750 dogs that live in a Moroccan shelter, the daily routine consists of eating, resting, a bit of fighting and eating again. Could they possibly expect more from life? A pointed, cinematic commentary on mass confinement.
Mutts
An adolescent girl’s figure skating lesson becomes the latest battleground in the marital warfare between her parents in Halima Ouardiri’s piercing family drama.
The Skates
Based on a true story, Mokhtar recounts the tale of a young boy who lives with his family of goatherds in a remote, Moroccan village. One day, the boy finds a fallen owl and decides to keep it, despite the fact that the owl is considered a bad omen. Mokhtar's new pet becomes a symbol of rebellion against his family and an icon of his fledgling independence. Kinship, religion and spirituality are all confronted in this astounding piece that celebrates inner and outer strength.