On the Edge (Sur la planche)
Directed by Leila Kilani
Synopsis
In Tangier’s old town, two young Casablancan girls - BADIA and IMANE - live their lives amongst the army of workers who inhabit the city. Peeling shrimps by day in a spotless shrimp factory then turning tricks by night, the girls make extra money by fencing meagre goods stolen from their nocturnal ‘clients’. Beyond Tangier lies the “Free Zone”, a symbol for global world sub-contracting.
It is Europe on Moroccan land, on African land: close, tangible, yet accessible only to those with a work permit. One evening BADIA and IMANE encounter two other girls, ASMA and NAWAL who are slightly more advantaged than them in that they work in the Free Zone which BADIA sees as a springboard into a more material world. Strengthened by their new friendship they form what BADIA feels to be a girl power gang where they can conquer all: cosmopolitan cafes, upscale oceanfront houses, better paying jobs and luxury goods -- altogether more opportunities. The girls explore every corner of this new space and make it theirs from dusk to dawn; they never sleep and they don’t stop moving. But they encounter other opportunists and gangsters who put even more temptation in BADIA’s sights and they are certainly not afraid to give her a run for her money.
Technical information
Feature Film, 106 min, 35mm, colour, 16:9 anamorphic
© 2011 Aurora Films (FR) / Socco Chico Films (MA) / INA (FR) / DKB Productions (FR) / Vandertastic (DE)
Funded by the Centre Cinématographique Marocain, Fond Sud Cinéma, World Cinema Fund, Hubert Bals Fund, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, Région Centre-Centre Images, La Région Basse-Normandie, La Région Ile-de-France, Abu Dhabi Post Production Fund
Cast
Soufia Issami · Mouna Bahmad · Nouzha Akel · Sara Betioui
Crew
Producers: Charlotte Vincent, Leila Kilani
Co-Producers: Hanneke van der Tas, Gérald Collas, Emmanuel Barrault
Screenwriters: Leila Kilani, Abd-Eli Hafed Benotman
Director: Leila Kilani
Director of Photography: Eric Devin
Editor: Tina Baz
Music: Wilifried Blanchard (Wilkimix)
World Sales: Fortissimo
French Distribution: Epicentre Films
Awards
Cinema in Motion Award, San Sebastian International Film Festival 2010
Golden Tauro Best Film, Best Actress and Best Director, Taormina Film Festival 2011
Jury Prize Special Mention 2011, Paris Cinema International Film Festival
Prize FIPRESCI, Films from the South Festival 2011
Critic's Prize, Festival International du Film Francophone 2011
Best Film, Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival 2011
Special Jury Prize, FIFI Bruxelles 2011
Best Actress, FIFI Bruxelles 2011
Grand Prix, Arte Mare 2011
Music Prize, Arte Mare 2011
Young Audience Prize, Arte Mare 2011
Special Mention, UIFF Popoli e Religioni 2011
Festivals
Cannes Film Festival 2011, Quinzaine des Réalisateurs (World Premiere)
Tübingen & Stuttgart Film Festival 2011
Göteborg Film Festival 2012
International FF & Forum on Human Rights 2012
Bergamo Film Meeting 2012
International Film Festival Hong Kong 2012
Film Festival Arab 2012
International Film Festival Haifa 2012
Paris Cinema International Film Festival 2011, International Competition
27. Rencontres Cinéma de Gindou 2011, International Competition
Kerala Internatioal Film Festival 2011
Cuenca Film Festival 2011
Festival de San Sebastian 2011
La Viennale 2011
Festival du film de Vendôme 2011
Middle East Film Festival 2011, Competition
Festival International de Tessalonique 2011
Goa International Film Festival 2011
Chicago International Film Festival 2011
Festival des 3 Continents 2011
Festival du Film Arabe 2011
Festival Cinéalma 2011
Festival Maghreb des Films 2011
Festival Cinémed 2011
Festival Cinématographique d'Automne 2011
Festival des Cinémas d'Afrique du Pays d'Apt 2011
Festival International du film d'Arras 2011
Festival Lumières d'Afrique 2011
International Film Festival Amiens 2011
American Film Market 2011
Films From the South 2011
Antalya International Film Festival 2011
Printemps & Cinéma du Maghreb Orléans 2011
Festival de Films de Femmes 2011
Festival du Film Indépendant 2011
Festival Résonances 2011
Festival du film d'Éducation 2011
Festival Arte Mare 2011
UIFF Popoli e Religioni 2011
Around the World in 14 films 2011
International Film Festival Marrakech 2011
Rotterdam Film Festival 2012
Premiers Plans 2012
Film Fesival Palm Springs 2012
International Film Festival Tromsø 2012
International Film Festival Rotterdam 2012
Swedish Film Institute 2012
14,4KM 2012
International Film Festival Istanbul 2012, International Competition
Film Festival Black Movie 2012
Filmfest Oslo 2012
Film Festival Turkey/Germany 2012
Divercine 2012
Film Festival Sguardi Altrove 2012
Film Festival Cinema Novo 2012
Festival films Made by Women 2012
International Film Festival Ankara 2012
International Film Festival Vilnius 2012
Film Festival Afrika 2012
African, Asian and Latin America Film Festival 2012
Cinemafrica 2012
Riviera Maya Film Festival 2012
International Film Festival Muscat 2012
International Film Festival Bari 2012
Febiofest 2012
Lichter Filmtage 2012
Filmfestival Artichoke 2012
International Film Festival 2012
Festival Vues d'Afrique 2012
International Film Festival 2012
CPH:PIX 2012
International Women's Film Festival Dortmund/Cologne 2012
International Women's Film Festival 2012
Crossing Europe Film Festival 2012
Indie Lisboa 2012
Newport Beach Film Festival 2012
New Taipei City Film Festival 2012
Spot Taipei Film House 2012
Palm Beach Women's International Film Festival 2012
Habibi revolt Film Festival 2012
Flying broom Women's Film Festival 2012
International Film Festival Berkshire 2012
International Film Festival Transilvania 2012
Mediterranean Film Festival Split 2012
Franco Arab Film Festival 2012
Shanghai International Film Festival 2012
Film Festival Taipei 2012
Granada International Film Festival Cines del Sur 2012
Cinecultura 2012
Samsung Women's International Film Festival 2012
Internatinal Film Festival Durban 2012
Cinémas d'Afrique 2012
International Film Festival Helsinki 2012
Film Festival Malmö Arab 2012
Africa in Motion Film Festival 2012
Brussels Mediterranean Film Festival 2012
Cinemania 2012
Africamera 2012
Spot Taipei Film House 2012