International Sales Agent Lucky Number featured Orian Barki and Meriem Bennani’s animation feature “Bouchra,” which will premiere in the Competitive Platforms section of the Toronto Film Festival next month. Variety debuts the first clip of the film.
The New York Film Festival will host the US premiere of the film in late September.
The film focuses on Bouchura, a Moroccan filmmaker in New York. He is paralyzed by the fear of blank pages. I have memories of the phone call with my mother in Casablanca. Their soft and intricate exchanges spark creative breakthroughs and open up a journey through the thrill of family ties, daughters, and love.
Benani said: “What Olian and I have in common is that we are looking for something when we feel that is true. It’s a balance of certain kindness and humor that we don’t try to do anything that’s neither cool nor relevant. That’s the compass of this film.
She continued. “Animation is considered a genre instead of a medium filled with potential. When we write and are direct, we are not following the level of nuance and emotional depth we observe in the reality around us.
“Bouchra” is produced by Fondazione Prada. He is also the producer of the 2 Lizard. Executive producers include HI Productions. The film has also been co-produced by producers of SB Films and Wes Anderson since “Moonrise Kingdom” Octavia Paycel.
Lucky Numbers presents four other titles this year at the Toronto Film Festival. This also features the world premiere of “Hen” by György Pálfi. Annemarie Jacir’s “Palestine 36” is played as a glass cleaning. And “The Last One,” by Francesco Society, titled “The Last One,” will be shown in the centerpiece section alongside Gabriel Mascaro’s Berlinale Silver Silver Grand Jury Award winner, “The Blue Trail.”
