La mer au loin by Saïd Hamich Benlarbi, special screening at Critics' Week 2024

French-Moroccan screenwriter, producer and director Saïd Hamich Benlarbi, a Fémis graduate and Lagardère Foundation laureate, presents a special screening of his second feature, La mer au loin, at Critics' Week 2024. As a reminder, this parallel selection of the Cannes Festival celebrates first and second films by male and female directors.

While he has collaborated with a number of filmmakers, including Philippe Faucon and Nabil Ayouch, Saïd Hamich Benlarbi subsequently turned to directing, with his first feature film in 2018, Retour à Bollène, nominated for the Prix Louis-Delluc for first film. His short film Le départ was nominated for a César.

In La mer au loin, he tells the story of 27-year-old Nour, who has emigrated illegally to Marseille. With his friends, he lives a marginal and festive life of petty trafficking... But his encounter with Serge, a charismatic and unpredictable cop, and his wife Noémie, turns his life upside down. From 1990 to 2000, Nour loves, grows old and clings to his dreams.

• To be read
• Cannes Festival 2025: The latest news and information about the 78th edition
• Festival de Cannes 2025: Selection for Critics' Week
• Cannes Festival 2025: Films in competition for the Caméra d'Or

The cast includes Ayoub Gretaa, Grégoire Colin and Anna Mouglalis.

Festival de Cannes 2025: Selection for Critics' Week
La Semaine de la Critique has just revealed its program. Discover the 11 films selected in this parallel selection for the Cannes Film Festival 2025. [Read more]

Cannes Festival 2025: The latest news and information about the 78th edition
The Cannes Film Festival returns to the Croisette for its 78th edition from May 13 to 24, 2025. Click here for all the latest news and information! [Read more]