Morocco Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Murtada Elfadl Building on the promise of her short film “My Trip to Spain,” which played Sundance in 2022, filmmaker Theda Hammel returns to the festival with her feature debut, “Stress Positions.” Joined by favorite collaborator and lead actor John Early, she brings along the same wry sharp humor and the same incisive parody of her generation, only this time, Hammel is playing on a bigger canvas, directing a larger cast and tackling more topics and themes. Among other things, the film might be the first genuinely enjoyable film made about the pandemic. Set entirely within a few days in the summer of 2020, “Stress Positions” follows Terry Goon (Early) as he navigates a rather stressful few weeks.

Qatar‘s Doha Film Institute (DFI) has announced the recipient projects for its fall 2023 grants cycle, featuring 44 films by first and second-time directors hailing from 32 countries. (scroll down for full list)

Manchester United fans will be hoping that their new chief executive Omar Berrada will be able to have as significant an influence over successful player transfer negotiations as he did at Manchester City.

Ben Croll Recently honored as one of Unifrance’s 10 to Watch, Franco-Moroccan filmmaker Sofia Alaoui will build on the rugged eeriness of her 2023 Sundance jury prize winner “Animalia” with “Tarfaya” – a slow-burn thriller that mines Morocco’s sweeping landscapes for ambient unease. Named for (and inspired by) a remote, coastal town on the country’s Saharan border, “Tarfaya” imagines a not-too-distant world of extreme atmospheric swings, of severe heat giving way to more intense storms, all while daily life trudges on.

Theda Hammel’s latest dramedy at Neon Stressed Positions stars Hammel, John Early, Qaher Harhash, Amy Zimmer, Faheem Ali, and Rebecca F. Wright follows Bahlul, a queer Moroccan-American model that everyone wants to meet. While moments emerge showing the glimmer of an insightful character study, the film quickly dissolves into an endurance test drowned out by superficial noise. One must tip the cap to Hammel’s sheer feat of micro-budget production, but his organic style choices bewilder more than enlighten.The film follows Bahlul (Harhash), a 20-year old  Moroccan, American model, spending his time in recovery from a broken leg with his uncle Terry in Brooklyn, Ny. Terry is not Moroccan, but American and white and are family by marriage. The injured Bahlul meets a cast of eccentric characters, including Terry’s best friend Karla (Hammel), Carla‘s girlfriend, Vanessa (Zimmer), Terry’s husband Leo (Roberts), Ronald (Ali), the local GrubHub delivery guy, and Coco (Wright), the woman living in the apartment above them. 

Brent Lang Executive Editor Not much is funny about those terrifying early days of COVID, when the world was cloaked in an apocalyptic doom and the president was telling us to drink bleach. But in “Stress Positions,” Theda Hammel miraculously finds the funny side of lockdown, mining the masks, Purell and social distancing that defined that unhappy era for physical comedy. “Those gestures are like balloons, and they’re filled with the sense of danger and a sense of peril,” Hammel says of the Sundance-bound film that she directed and co-wrote.

Newly appointed French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal took France’s political and media spheres by surprise on Thursday as he named controversial politician Rachida Dati as his culture minister.

As awards season switches up a gear, with the handing out of the Golden Globes and the publication of the Bafta shortlists, one major title stands out in the International categories of both: Justine Triet’s Palme d’Or winning courtroom drama Anatomy of a Fall. It would be a reasonable bet for the Oscar win in any year — if it were actually eligible. In lieu of Triet’s film, which fell well within Academy rules in terms of the amount of English spoken, the French selection panel opted instead for period gourmet drama The Taste of Things to do battle for the country’s honor, a move that is sure to cause a lot of confusion in the coming weeks.

Fashion retailer Boohoo put 'Made in the UK' labels on items of clothing made in South Asia, a BBC investigation has revealed.

Politico.Like Macron, Attal was aligned with the center-left Socialist Party before joining the more centrist Renaissance Party. Similarly, his politics often shift on various issues, as he’ll take the more conservative approach on some while staking out a more liberal position on others, reports CNN.

She may have hid her expanding bump underneath a black hoodie and dark leggings but a grinning Fleur East was absolutely glowing as she was seen in London for the first time, following a sun-soaked holiday with her husband Marcel Robin.The singer, co-host since 2023 of Strictly: It Takes Two with Janette Manrara, announced she was expecting her first child with Marcel, a French fashion designer and star stylist, on Instagram on New Year’s Day, with a sweet caption, which read: '2024 is gonna be different.' Fleur’s relaxed, low-key look was completed with a pair of white trainers, a padded jacket and a scarf - not surprising, given the chill currently bracing the capital. The blooming 36 year old radio DJ, who reached the final of X Factor in 2014 and was also a campmate on I'm A Celebrity in 2018, had previously given fans a first glimpse of her growing bump as she posed by the pool with a delighted Marcel on holiday, in a sleeveless vest and mustard cargo trousers.

Manchester United duo Hannibal Mejbri and Amad could still represent their countries at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) because of a loophole in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regulations.

Brandi Glanville has been experiencing a scary medical condition ever since she her feud with The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip co-star Caroline Manzo started!

Former Channel 4 star Jody Bunting, who appeared on Big Breakfast between 2001 and 2002, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, after a colleague suffered an allergic reaction. Jody was arrested for was arrested on suspicion of the attempted murder of a work colleague, a claim he denies, as he returned form a holiday to Morocco on 2 November.

Police have arrested a former Channel 4 star on suspicion of attempted murder. Jody Bunting, who appeared on the network's Big Breakfast between 2001 and 2002, was arrested at Luton Airport after he returned from a holiday.

Eurovision Song Contest has teased that “The Caribbean is coming” to this year’s competition.Taking to their official Instagram page with 1.3 million followers to announce that the Caribbean – a subregion of North America with over 700 islands – will be taking part in the famous contest for the first time.The post showed a video clip of palm trees and clear beaches. The caption of the post read: “New Year! New News! We’re thrilled to confirm that the Caribbean is coming to the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.

Fleur East, who has announced she is pregnant, has shared that the sad loss of her dad inspired her decision to start a family.The soon-to-be mum lost her father Malcolm in 2020 due to a heart attack. In October 2022, Fleur confessed that her dad's passing made her more keen to have children with her husband Marcel Badiane-Robin.The 36 year old said: "I appreciate things more.

Fleur East has announced she is expecting her first child later this year with the former Strictly Come Dancing star revealing her big news to fans on New Year's Day.

Fleur East is set for an exciting year, as she revealed she's expecting her first child with her husband, Marcel Badiane-Robin. The X Factor star took to Instagram on Monday, January 1 to share the happy news with her 815,000 followers. Alongside a stunning snap of Fleur cradling her growing bump, she wrote: "2024 is gonna be different…" Her celebrity pals raced to the comments to pass on their well wishes.

In a city renowned for its culinary scene, Salford's Chapel Street recently welcomed the arrival of Fez Tajine, heralded as the new premier Moroccan Steakhouse.

Sofyan Amrabat will not be returning to Fiorentina when the transfer market reopens, according to reports, amid reports that the Manchester United loanee is "unhappy" with his situation at Old Trafford.

Bre Tiesi might’ve just won Christmas!

Mariah Carey and Bryan Tanaka have confirmed that they have split after seven years together, after rumours began spreading that they were in disagreement over welcoming children. It was previously reported that Bryan wanted to have children, while Mariah, who is already a proud mum to 12 year old twins, Moroccan and Monroe, does not want to welcome anymore.

Mariah Carey’s longtime boyfriend, Bryan Tanaka, has broken his silence following their split after seven years together. “Dear friends and fans,” the dancer and choreographer began in a lengthy and emotional Instagram post on Tuesday.

posted a video of her 12-year-old twins, Monroe and Moroccan, begging her not to perform “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”“Mom, please. We don’t want to do this every time,” Moroccan says to Carey, who is dressed in her iconic red and white suit, while Monroe agrees.

If you want to see Travis Kelce, you’re in luck!

The grandmother of Alex Batty says her "chaotic" daughter tricked her into letting him go on holiday and said she didn't know if they were "alive or dead".

The grandmother of Alex Batty - the Oldham boy missing from home for six years - has said she thought she'd 'never see him again'... and feared he could have been dead. Susan Caruana, 68, was reunited with her 17-year-old grandson last weekend after he flew home from France.

Mariah Carey will be celebrating the holidays with her children this year. News broke yesterday that the iconic singer and her long-time boyfriend, Bryan Tanaka, have broken up. The couple has been together since 2016, which undoubtedly left a big impact on both of their lives.