Hull Independent Cinema: Bouchra
Reel Cinema Hull, Hull, HU2 8LN
Friday 27th November 2026 7:30PM
Hull Independent Cinema presents…
BOUCHRA
Watch the trailer on Youtube
Dir Orian Yani Barki, Meriem Bennani | USA, Italy, Morocco | 2025 | 83 mins | Rated 15 | English, French, Arabic
Bouchra, a queer Moroccan filmmaker living in New York, rendered as a coyote in this inventive adult animation, is stuck with writer's block on her first feature. Overdue phone calls with her avoidant mother in Casablanca begin reshaping the project, drawing her into difficult territory around identity, sexuality, and family. Balancing the precarity of artistic life abroad, tangled friendships, and romantic entanglements, Bouchra's emotional reckoning with her mother becomes her path toward self-expression. A tender, funny, formally daring meditation on mothers, daughters, and creation.
Starring Ariana Faye Allensworth, Fayçal Azizi, Orian Yani Barki
AWARDS AND FESTIVALS
Toronto International Film Festival: Nominee, Platform Award
Entrevues Film Festival: Winner, Ciné+ Distribution Support Award; Nominee, Grand Prix Award
Göteborg Film Festival: Nominee, Best Debut Feature
REVIEWS
"The smallest gestures, awkward pauses and hesitant phone calls, all give the film a naturalism and intimacy that allow it to speak beyond autobiography while never losing sight its specificity." ★★★★ Marina Ashioti, Little White Lies
"Far from reiterating tired binaries -- tradition versus modernity, elders versus youngsters -- the film embraces the beauty of contradictions with open arms." ★★★★ Phuong Le, The Guardian
"With animation as a protective veil and real voices bringing intimacy, “Bouchra” carves a unique spot for itself, successfully blending these elements to make a poignant and resonant story." Murtada Elfadl, Variety
"... we’re met with a human whole – entirely individual, pleading to be understood." Blake Simons, Sight & Sound
ACCESSIBILITY
Subtitles
This film will be presented with Descriptive Subtitles. In addition to reproducing dialogue, these subtitles include additional non-dialogue sounds available to a hearing audience, e.g. "(sighs)" or "(door creaks)" and song lyrics. In our experience, guests do not find the subtitles distracting, especially as the majority of our films are subtitled foreign language films.
Hull Independent Cinema is working towards making our films more accessible. We have decided to present all our films with Descriptive Subtitles where available.
AGE RATING
BOUCHRA is rated 15. Under 15s will not be admitted. For more information, please see the film’s page on the BBFC website.
Programme Details
The venue is open all day, so why not come along early to grab a drink and a snack? The programme run time includes an allowance for introductions and up to three trailers. While we will endeavour to accommodate latecomers, this may not always be possible. Please note that we reserve the right to refuse entry, without a refund, to anyone arriving after the advertised start time.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or suggestions, please drop us a line at [email protected] or on social media.
BOUCHRA
Watch the trailer on Youtube
Dir Orian Yani Barki, Meriem Bennani | USA, Italy, Morocco | 2025 | 83 mins | Rated 15 | English, French, Arabic
Bouchra, a queer Moroccan filmmaker living in New York, rendered as a coyote in this inventive adult animation, is stuck with writer's block on her first feature. Overdue phone calls with her avoidant mother in Casablanca begin reshaping the project, drawing her into difficult territory around identity, sexuality, and family. Balancing the precarity of artistic life abroad, tangled friendships, and romantic entanglements, Bouchra's emotional reckoning with her mother becomes her path toward self-expression. A tender, funny, formally daring meditation on mothers, daughters, and creation.
Starring Ariana Faye Allensworth, Fayçal Azizi, Orian Yani Barki
AWARDS AND FESTIVALS
Toronto International Film Festival: Nominee, Platform Award
Entrevues Film Festival: Winner, Ciné+ Distribution Support Award; Nominee, Grand Prix Award
Göteborg Film Festival: Nominee, Best Debut Feature
REVIEWS
"The smallest gestures, awkward pauses and hesitant phone calls, all give the film a naturalism and intimacy that allow it to speak beyond autobiography while never losing sight its specificity." ★★★★ Marina Ashioti, Little White Lies
"Far from reiterating tired binaries -- tradition versus modernity, elders versus youngsters -- the film embraces the beauty of contradictions with open arms." ★★★★ Phuong Le, The Guardian
"With animation as a protective veil and real voices bringing intimacy, “Bouchra” carves a unique spot for itself, successfully blending these elements to make a poignant and resonant story." Murtada Elfadl, Variety
"... we’re met with a human whole – entirely individual, pleading to be understood." Blake Simons, Sight & Sound
ACCESSIBILITY
Subtitles
This film will be presented with Descriptive Subtitles. In addition to reproducing dialogue, these subtitles include additional non-dialogue sounds available to a hearing audience, e.g. "(sighs)" or "(door creaks)" and song lyrics. In our experience, guests do not find the subtitles distracting, especially as the majority of our films are subtitled foreign language films.
Hull Independent Cinema is working towards making our films more accessible. We have decided to present all our films with Descriptive Subtitles where available.
AGE RATING
BOUCHRA is rated 15. Under 15s will not be admitted. For more information, please see the film’s page on the BBFC website.
Programme Details
The venue is open all day, so why not come along early to grab a drink and a snack? The programme run time includes an allowance for introductions and up to three trailers. While we will endeavour to accommodate latecomers, this may not always be possible. Please note that we reserve the right to refuse entry, without a refund, to anyone arriving after the advertised start time.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or suggestions, please drop us a line at [email protected] or on social media.
Event Details
Rated 15. Under 15s will not be admitted
Doors Open at 7:15PM
From 7:30PM to 9:05PM
