“The time for African cinema has come” Layla Triqui, winner of the Écrans Noirs Festival in Yaoundé

Meeting with Layla Triqui, a Moroccan director, screenwriter and producer who has been in the film industry for more than twenty years. She won the Écran d’Or grand prize last September at the 29th edition of the Écrans Noirs festival in Yaoundé, Cameroon, for her first feature film, Empreintes du vent. A traveler at heart, Layla draws from multiple horizons to nourish her films and campaigns for African works to circulate freely, without borders.

If we rewind, what moment sparked your passion for cinema?

Layla Triqui: When I was very little, my father used to take me to the cinema every weekend. It was our ritual, a true childhood joy. I always looked forward to these rendez-vous with the big screen, which marked my childhood. I was also lucky to grow up in an artistic environment, surrounded by music, books, and dance.

How did your path to directing take shape?

Due to the lack of film schools in Morocco at the time, I chose the Higher Institute of Dramatic Art and Animation (ISADAC) in Rabat, specializing in scenography. A foundation that still serves me today. During my studies, a workshop with the director Jilali Ferhati was a watershed moment. He encouraged me to persevere in cinema. In 2005, while I had been directing for television for a long time, I joined the exchange program between the Marrakech International Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. I followed a 10-day training course with Abbas Kiarostami and a masterclass of several hours by Martin Scorsese on his vision of cinema and staging. It was a turning point, both for directing and for the writing of my films. Directing a feature film had always been my goal, but other priorities in life kept it away from me for a time.

Speaking of your film, Empreintes du vent, what subject did you address?

My film is inspired by true events and follows a child born of Maghrebi migrations (60s–90s) in search of a parent left on the other side of the Mediterranean. Between two continents, she reconstructs her identity and her roots. This story echoes those of families and migrants of the last decade who are in search of belonging, resilience, and reconciliation with their scars, born of the winds of the past.

Winning the Écran d’Or Prize, what does that represent for you?

It is an immense honor, especially coming from an African jury. Empreintes du vent began its journey at the Khouribga International African Film Festival, where it received the Jury Prize. I was very touched to have so many professionals of different nationalities, notably the great director Abderrahmane Sissako, present at the screening. After obtaining the Écran d’Or Prize in Yaoundé, my film will be presented in competition in Niger, then in Senegal. This recognition proves that our story resonates across the continent. Écrans Noirs brings visibility to the film and encourages me to continue. African cinema is booming: its time has come!

How do you see the future of Moroccan and African cinema?

I am optimistic. In recent years, many films from Morocco, the Maghreb, and Africa have distinguished themselves in major international festivals. African cinema is asserting its identity and gaining visibility.

Your film travels a lot. What do you feel during these screenings far from home?

The film has been programmed in Kazan, Seville, Alexandria, and will be in London then Rio de Janeiro. To date, it has won six national and international awards. Each encounter with an audience is unique and enriching. Viewers sometimes perceive details I hadn’t even thought of, and that helps me take a step back from my work. In the end, every screening, wherever it takes place, has brought me something special.

Do you have any essentials that you always take when traveling?

I always check a suitcase and, in the cabin, a small backpack in which I always have a book. I also like to bring back a souvenir from the country from every trip, like a rare book or film, to extend the experience once I’m back.

What message would you like to hear from your audience… and when will your film be in theaters in Morocco?

LT: Wishes for inspiration and good health! Empreintes du vent has already been officially presented in Morocco, but the general public will still have to wait before its theatrical release, scheduled after the closing of the great African football competition kicking off in December in Morocco.