Un Certain Regard is a distinguished section within the Cannes Film Festival, dedicated to showcasing films with unique perspectives and fostering the discovery of emerging talents in the industry.

Under the presidency of Canadian actor and filmmaker Xavier Dolan, the jury for this year’s edition includes a diverse panel of industry professionals. Alongside Asmae El Moudir, the jury features French-Senegalese filmmaker Maïmouna Doucouré, German-Luxembourgish actress Vicky Krieps, and American film critic Todd McCarthy.

The jury’s responsibility will be to evaluate and recognize outstanding works within the section, which celebrates innovation and creativity in cinema, as stated by the festival organizers.

A total of 18 feature films have been selected for this year’s competition, including eight debut films. Notable entries include Le Procès du Chien by Laetitia Dosch, The Shameless by Konstantin Bojanov, and September Says by Ariane Labed.

Asmae El Moudir, born in Salé in 1990, has established herself as a prominent figure in the Moroccan film industry. With a background in directing documentaries for various Moroccan and international television channels, she ventured into feature-length filmmaking with her debut documentary Postcard in 2020. The film garnered attention and was showcased at prestigious film festivals including the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) and the Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM).

In 2023, El Moudir’s directorial prowess was further recognized with her film The Mother of All Lies, which received critical acclaim and numerous accolades. Notably, the film won the Best Director Prize in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and the prestigious Étoile d’Or of the documentary category.

El Moudir’s achievements have earned her nominations at esteemed awards ceremonies such as the PGA Awards and the Film Independent Spirit Awards. She clinched the International Documentary Association (IDA) Award for Best Directing and proudly represented Morocco with her film’s nomination for Best Foreign Film at the 2024 Oscars.