The short film “Qu’importe si les bêtes meurent,” (So What, if the Beasts Die) written and directed by Sofia Alaoui has been nominated for an award at the 46th Césars du Cinema ceremony, organized by the Academy of Arts and Techniques of Cinema in France.The awards will take place in Paris on March 12, 2021, a press statement from the Moroccan Cinematographic Center (CCM) said.

After its release in 2019, this short film took part in the international competition of the Sundance Festival (January-February 2020) and won the Grand Jury Prize.

The prestigious festival is considered one of the most important events of independent cinema in the world.

The film also featured in the official competition of the Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival (February 2020), the largest short film meeting in the world, before participating in the Tangiers National Film Festival. (February-March 2020), then at the Sao Paolo International Short Film Festival (August 2020), and at the Namur International Francophone Film Festival (October 2020).

After the Césars, “So What, if the Beasts Die” will continue its successful career in April 2021 with its nomination by the Academy of The Oscars.

Produced by the company Jiango Films, with the support of the Moroccan Cinematographic Center (CCM), the short film tells in the Amazigh language the story of Abdellah, a young shepherd and his father, who witness the death of their beasts in the high Atlas Mountains. 

Abdellah must therefore go to a nearby village for supplies and realize there that it’s deserted following a mysterious incident.