Ahmed El Maanouni is a writer, director, cinematographer and producer born in Casablanca. He studied economics at Paris University Dauphine, cinema at INSAS Brussels and theater at the University of Theater des Nations in Paris. His works include one of the most emblematic titles of Moroccan cinema ALYAM ALYAM (1978), first Moroccan film selected in Cannes Film Festival and receiving the Grand Prize at Mannheim film festival. He caught international attention with TRANCES (Al Hal) restored and presented by Martin Scorsese at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival—Cannes Classics, ALYAM ALYAM and TRANCES were restored by The Cinema Foundation Project and have entered prestigious collections such as The Criterion Collection and Eureka, The Masters of Cinema. His film BURNED HEARTS (2007) won the Grand Prix at the National Film Festival in Morocco and was awarded numerous international prizes. His latest feature FADMA (2017) was awarded the Best Director’s Prize at the National Film Festival in Tangiers 2017.

Moreover, his play, ECHO ALPHA, won the Young Theater Competition. He directs study groups and educational programs in Morocco and throughout the world. In 2007, he was honored with the title of Officir of the Ordre des Arts et Lettres in France.