Originally from Tangier in Morocco, film-maker Farida Benlyazid graduated with a Bachelor’s in Modern Literature specializing in film from Paris 8 University in 1974. She pursued her studies at the “Ecole Supérieure d’Etudes Cinématographiques” in Paris. In 1979, she produced her first documentary for FR3 entitled Identity of a woman, followed by Aminata Traoré, A woman from the Sahel and Casanayda. Farida Benlyazid is also the author of several feature film scripts: Poupées de roseaux by Jillali Ferhati (1980), Badis by Abderrahmane Tazi (1986), and Looking for my wife’s husband by Abderrahmane Tazi (1992). Throughout her career she has written, directed and produced feature films that gave expression to women’s voices: A door on heaven (1988), Feminine wiles (1999), Casablanca, Casablanca (2002), Juanita of Tanger (2005), Frontieras ( 2012). She wrote and directed several films, and also worked for television, directing several hit films. From 2013 to 2016, she wrote and directed a documentary series produced by Dounia Productions on Amazigh Music and Dance. In 2016 Farida Benlyazid finished other documentaries produced by Dounia Production, entitled Amazigh weddings in the Anergui valley, and in 2017 Nomad wedding in Merzouga the first of a series on the topic of Amazigh weddings in various regions of Morocco. In 2021, she wrote the screenplay for the film The unforgettable sultana, dedicated to Fatima Mernissi. In 2023 and 2024, Farida Benlyazid directed three documentaries on Amazigh Architecture, followed by a documentary entitled Earthen architecture and resilience, in response to the earthquake that struck Morocco in September 2023.

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