About the Author
Born in Morocco in the 80's, Mehdi pursued his film studies in Paris at the EICAR (International School of Audiovisual Creation and Directing) where he began with a BTS in production management before moving on to a course in film and audiovisual directing. In 2006, he decided to come back to Morocco to try his luck, first as an assistant director before directing "Cicatrices" in 2009. After several festival appearances, the film was a great success with both Moroccan and international audiences. This earned him four major awards, the last one being the Grand Prix d'Or de Création at the International Film and Television Festival of Lebanon in April 2011. In 2014, he founded a small production company he called Fade In, and threw himself body and soul into the preparation of his first feature film. Throughout his films, Mehdi is keen to express, his aversion against injustices, his commitment against social hypocrisy and his fight against the shortcomings or even the consequences of our contemporary societies.
Developed Projects
The film traces three crucial periods – young adolescence (12-13 years old), mid-adolescence (16-17 years old) and young adulthood (seven years later) – in the life of Shams-Eddine, a young Moroccan, a hermaphrodite, in search of his identity, in search of love and above all, friendship. Declared and raised as a boy, his/her world turns upside down when he/she becomes frightenedly aware that he/she is neither a woman nor a man, but both at the same time. Torn between his youth and his desire for self-exploration, he is confronted with events that will force him to question his preconceived ideas about masculinity, femininity, sexuality, family and love.
From Script to Screen
