Meriem Bennani at Visions du Réel: ‘Bouchra’ Premiere & Artist Spotlight

Moroccan visual artist and videographer Meriem Bennani is set to be honored with a focus at the 57th edition of Visions du Réel, the documentary film festival running April 17-26 in Nyon, Switzerland. The festival will host the Swiss premiere of her debut feature film, “Bouchra,” co-directed with Orian Barki, and will also present a selection of her films and video works. This spotlight arrives as Bennani’s profile continues to rise within both the contemporary art world and increasingly, within independent cinema.

The festival’s artistic director, Emilie Bujès, expressed enthusiasm for showcasing Bennani’s work, stating, “We are delighted to welcome artist Meriem Bennani, whose reputation in contemporary art is well established, and to present her remarkable first feature film, as well as seven short films. The conversation around her hybrid, pop and political practice will joyfully expand the spectrum of possibilities for this 2026 edition.”

From Art Installations to Animated Features

Bennani’s artistic practice is characterized by a dynamic interplay between visual art, video, and installation. She’s garnered recognition for large-scale installations exhibited at prestigious institutions including MoMA PS1, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Fondation Louis Vuitton, and the Fondazione Prada. Her work often blends elements of globalized pop culture with representations of Maghreb history and culture, creating a unique and often humorous commentary on contemporary society. A recent example is “Sole Crushing,” presented at the Fondazione Prada between 2024 and 2025, which featured nearly 200 pairs of flip-flops and tap shoes performing a musical piece, exploring themes of community and individual identity.

Whereas established in the art world, Bennani’s move into filmmaking represents a significant expansion of her creative output. Her collaborative work with Orian Barki, beginning with the Instagram-broadcast miniseries “2 Lizards” during the 2020 lockdown, demonstrates a willingness to experiment with form and narrative. “2 Lizards” utilized 3D animation and non-fiction sequences to capture the anxieties and absurdities of life under lockdown, a project that foreshadowed the more ambitious scope of “Bouchra.”

“Bouchra”: A Queer Coming-of-Age Story

“Bouchra,” which premiered at the Recent York Film Festival last fall, marks Bennani and Barki’s first feature-length collaboration. The film follows Bouchra, a jackal filmmaker living in New York, as she grapples with her complex relationship with her mother, Aicha, a cardiologist in Casablanca. As Interview Magazine reported, the film is a “queer coming of age tale” that blends 3D animation, anthropomorphism, and documentary elements. The original soundtrack was composed by Flavien Berger.

The film’s unique aesthetic and subject matter have already generated buzz, even attracting attention from an unexpected corner of the internet – the furry fandom. According to the same Interview Magazine piece, “Bouchra” has sparked lively discussion on Letterboxd, a social networking site for film enthusiasts. This unexpected reaction speaks to the film’s ability to resonate with diverse audiences and provoke conversation.

A Hybrid Approach to Storytelling

Bennani’s earlier work, “Life on the Caps: Trilogy in Single Channel,” initiated in 2018 and completed in 2022, further exemplifies her innovative approach to storytelling. This three-part work centers on Fiona, a CGI crocodile inhabiting CAPS, a fictional island where teleportation has replaced air travel. The project tackles themes of immigration and displacement, offering “an alternative representation of immigration that runs counter to the hegemonic and regularly miserabilist media discourses,” according to Visions du Réel. By utilizing animation and live-action footage, Bennani constructs a dystopian universe that challenges conventional narratives surrounding migration.

Collaboration and Creative Process

The collaborative dynamic between Bennani and Barki appears central to their creative process. In an interview with Interview Magazine, Barki described collaboration as “being surprised by what’s coming out of it,” emphasizing the importance of embracing uncertainty and allowing the project to evolve organically. However, the pair also acknowledged the challenges of co-directing, revealing that they “ended up breaking up” during the process, adding a layer of complexity to their working relationship. Bennani herself noted that her background in the art world, where she typically works independently, made the collaborative experience particularly valuable.

What’s Next for Bennani and Visions du Réel

On April 24th, Bennani will participate in a public conversation with artist and filmmaker Valentin Noujaïm at Visions du Réel, offering insights into her artistic practice and the themes explored in her work. The festival will also showcase a retrospective of her films and video works alongside the Swiss premiere of “Bouchra.”

The full program for the 57th edition of Visions du Réel will be released on March 25th, providing a more comprehensive overview of the festival’s offerings. For those interested in exploring Bennani’s work further, her installations and films have been featured at major institutions worldwide, offering opportunities to experience her unique artistic vision firsthand. Visions du Réel’s dedicated page provides a central hub for information about the focus on Bennani’s work, including details about screenings and events. Fans can also follow Bennani’s work through her exhibitions and projects, as she continues to push the boundaries of contemporary art and filmmaking. The Fondazione Prada website offers details on her past installations, like “Sole Crushing”.