TIFF Premiere Animated LGBTQ+ Drama ‘Bouchra’ Acquired by Lucky Numbers

Ahead of its World Premiere in the Toronto International Film Festival’s Platform program next month, indie 3D animated feature Bouchra has been picked up by international sales agent Lucky Number. The film is directed by Orian Barki and Meriem Bennani, and blends elements of documentary filmmaking and fiction as it explores the relationship between a queer anthropomorphic animal artist living in New York and her mother back in Morocco.

Bouchra is a U.S. / Morocco / Italy co-production with dialog in English, French and Arabic. The production companies are 2 Lizards Production, Hi Production and Fondazione Prada.

From TIFF’s Robyn Citizen:

Bouchra is a queer, Moroccan Coyote and filmmaker living in New York, preoccupied with how her sexuality has impacted her relationship with her mother (also a Coyote). The daughter is anxious to move on with her life and career but is plagued by doubts — and convinced that the only way to move on is to use her art to confront the tensions and unresolved issues with her parent.

… The action is split between two different Bouchras and two equally different mothers. “Fictional” Bouchra visits her mother Aicha, a celebrated painter, but their lively exchanges almost exclusively revolve around their mutual love of art — the subject of Bouchra’s sexuality is never broached. “Filmmaker” Bouchra constantly keeps in touch with her cardiologist mother in Casablanca, and their honest and intense phone calls — based on actual conversations had by Bennani — dwell on many of the issues the “fictional” mother and daughter assiduously avoid.

A first-look clip was shared with Variety tied to the announcement. Watch it below.

Barki and Bennani are both New York-based filmmakers born in Tel Aviv and Rabat, respectively. They previously collaborated on the animated miniseries 2 Lizards. Barki’s credits also include the documentary Rico Nasty: Countin’ Up, while Bennani previously helmed the tech impact doc Progress vs Regress.

Bouchra will hold its World Premiere at TIFF (September 4-14); showtimes are available here. The animated feature will then have its U.S. Premiere at the New York Film Festival (Sept. 26-Oct. 13); showtimes here.

[Sources: Variety, TIFF]