From Tangier to Hollywood, Sanaa Hamri confides: Mariah Carey, Prince, Beyoncé, Morocco and me

Back to basics for Moroccan director Sanaa Hamri whom we met during her visit to the Marrakech International Film Festival. Revealed in Hollywood, the Tangéroise, daughter of the painter Mohamed Hamri, shared, in this interview, her attachment to Morocco, her journey, her inspirations and her projects.

«Tangier flows in my veins, it is an integral part of my identity and my artistic vision. I lived there and grew up there. she begins. “As the daughter of the painter Mohamed Hamri, I was immersed in an artistic environment before leaving for the United States at the age of 18“, she continues.

She says she regularly goes to Morocco, and more particularly to Tangier, to recharge her batteries. “I need to return to my country to find balance and inspiration».

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Looking back on her journey in the United States, she says she encountered many difficulties, especially at the start of her career, at a time when female directors were rare. “I felt alone at the beginning, but I always had the support of my family and Moroccans who encouraged me to persevere and achieve my dreams.».

She also spoke about her collaboration with world-renowned artists like Mariah Carey, Prince and Beyoncé, stressing that she had always strived to introduce them to Morocco. “I took Mariah Carey to Marrakech and she fell in love with our culture. I would like to send a message to Moroccans: we must all be proud of our roots and our country».

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In the future, Sanaa Hamri dreams of making a film inspired by a Moroccan story. “I would like to produce a film on the history of Morocco to showcase the beauty and diversity of our culture. Because every time a film is shot here, it is to tell the story of another country. So I would like, this time, for the film to really be about us».

Is an installation in Morocco planned? “With the development of digital technology, I can work from Morocco thanks to Zoom for example. Sometimes I’m at home in Tangier and I manage my projects in London or Los Angeles“, she explains.

Sanaa Hamri adds that she would also like to contribute to the success of Moroccan cinema. “I have a lot of respect for great Moroccan directors such as Nabil Ayouch, but if I have a choice to make, I would rather work with the new generation, the one that has not yet been discovered and who needs light», concludes the director.