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Dérives
School of Hope
School of Hope
Finland/ France/ Morocco/ USA, 2021, 78’
in Arabic w/ Eng./ Arm. subtitles
Director and Scriptwriter: Mohamed El Aboudi
Cinematographers: Hannu-Pekka Vitikainen, Marita Hällfors, Päivi Kettunen
Producers: Pertti Veijalainen, Hind Saih, Lamia Chraibi
Editors: Lizi Gelber, Florence Bresson, Mohamed El Aboudi, Mikko Sippola
Composers: Richard Horowitz, Andrew Silagy
Production Company: Illume Ltd
For the past ten years or so, climate change and agricultural overexploitation have forced nomad tribes from the high plateau of Atlas in Morocco to become sedentary. Many are those who left for the city but found nothing but misery. The other option is to stay, for the long run, which means that they now have to plan the future, starting by building a school. This is how a tribe in the desert decided to stay on its land and fight for an education for its children. A dream that does not come true without difficulties, because when a child goes to school, they cannot work next to their parents.
Awards
Jury Special Mention, DocPoint Helsinki Documentary Film Festival, Finland, 2021; Special Jury Prize/ Audience Award, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Toronto, Canada, 2021; Special Prize, Tampere Film Festival, Finland, 2021; Bronze Lens – Best Human Rights Film, Millenium Documentary Film Festival, Brussels, Belgium, 2021.
Mohamed El Aboudi
Mohamed El Aboudi is an author and director who was born and raised in Morocco. He studied at the University of Fez and he is a Master graduate in cinema and television from the Bond University in Australia. He has directed a dozen documentaries including Dance of Outlaws (2012) which has won many festival prizes.
Select Filmography
Vasen vartaloon (2010), Dance of Outlaws (2012), Netizen Mo (2016), School of Hope (2021).