With eyes on several titles from the Arab world, only Moroccan film ‘Casablanca Beats’ received a nod in the upcoming Cannes Film Festival’s Official Competition.

The 74th Cannes Film Festival revealed the films it will feature last Thursday after having postponed the announcement from the previously planned 27 May.

The selected films were announced during a press conference by the festival's artistic director and general delegate, Thierry Frémaux. Held with the attendance of journalists, the conference took place at the UGC Normandie cinema in Paris.

According to the brief released by AFP, ‘Casablanca Beats’ takes the viewers to the suburbs of Casablanca, shedding light on young people “seeking an outlet through hip hop in a neighbourhood that in 2003 became a target of Al-Qaeda suicide attacks on hotels, restaurants, and community centres.”

‘Casablanca Beats’ is directed by Moroccan-French Cannes regular Nabil Ayouch. 

The film stars Anas Basbousi, Ismail Adouab, Maha Menan, and Marwa Kniniche. 

Director, producer, and writer Ayouch had two previous films screened at Cannes: ‘Horses Of God’ in Un Certain Regard in 2012, and ‘Much Love’ screened in Directors’ Fortnight in 2015.

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