Chikha

A Short film of

Zahoua Raji, Ayoub Layoussifi

Produced by

Hapax Productions

Production year2024

Runtime25 min

Synopsis

1994, seventeen-year-old Fatine lives with her mother Nadia, a chikha by profession, and her grandfather Hamid, in Azemmour, in southwest Morocco. With her baccalaureate in hand, Fatine is torn between two opposing voices: either perpetuate the family artistic tradition, or lead a more settled life with her lover Youssef, who denigrates her sulphurous artistic heritage. As enamored of Youssef as she is of the Aïta artistic heritage, Fatine must decide which direction her life should take if she is to achieve fulfillment. An unexpected ultimatum forces her to make a radical decision.

Credits

Directors (2)

Zahoua Raji
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Ayoub Layoussifi
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Actors (5)

Rita Kribi

Sanaa Gueddar

Oussama Fal

Hatim Seddiki

Hassan Boudour

Production and distribution (3)

Executive Producer : Hapax Productions

Foreign production company : Ciné-Scène International

Film exports/foreign sales : Sudu Connexion

Full credits (9)

Executive Producer : David Azoulay

Screenwriters : Yamina Zarou, Ayoub Layoussifi

Director of Photography : Xavier Castro

Editor : Mehdi Lachhab

Sound Recordist : Saïd Tawil

Foreign Producer : Najib Derkaoui

Sound editors : Nassim El Mounabbih, Harald Ballié

Production Designer : Farah Bouyaqd

Sound Mixer : Nassim El Mounabbih

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Technical details

Type : Short film
Genres : Fiction
Production language : Arabic
Coproducer countries : France (50.0%), Morocco (50.0%)
Original French-language productions : Unspecified
Nationality : 50% French (France, Morocco)
Production year : 2024
Runtime : 25 min
Visa number : 161.525
Visa issue date : 27/11/2024
Production formats : HD 4K
Color type : Color
Aspect ratio : CinemaScope
Audio format : 5.1

News & awards

News (2)

All the French films at the 69th BFI London Film Festival

26 SEPTEMBER 2025

Festivals & events

French short films worldwide: April 2025

04 MAY 2025

News in brief

Selections (4)

BFI London Film Festival
Great Britain, 2025
Short Films Section
Aspen Shortsfest
United States, 2025
Compétition internationale
Prix France Télévisions
2025
Sélection officielle
Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival
France, 2025
International Competition

About

Chikha: singer and dancer of popular Moroccan music. She performs the art of Aïta at weddings, circumcisions, and other celebrations.
Aïta: ancestral poetic and musical art practiced mainly by women artists, the chikhates, in Morocco.