Abdellah, a young shepherd living in the mountains, is forced to brave the snow blocking him in order to get food and save his cattle. Once he gets to the village, he faces a supernatural phenomenon.

In the heights of the Atlas mountains, Abdellah, a young shepherd, and his father are snowed in. As their animals start to starve, Abdellah goes in search of supplies in a village more than a day's walk away. With his mule, he arrives in the village and discovers that it has been deserted because of a curious event that has left all the believers baffled.

starring
Fouad Oughaou, Moha Oughaou, Oumaïma Oughaou, Saïd Ouabi

a film by Sofia ALAOUI

Morocco/France, 2019, short drama, 23 mins, 2.35 : 1

Year: 2019
Runtime: 23 min
Color: Color
Aspect Ratio: 2.35 : 1
Plot Keywords: Title directed by female, written by director, f rated, father son relationship, rural setting, Atlas mountains, shepherd, goat, village, alien, face slap

CAST
Fouad OUGHAOU............... Abdellah
Moha OUGHAOU.............. Abdellah's Father
Oumaïma OUGHAOU......... Itto
Saïd OUABI.................... The village fool

PRODUCERS
Sofia Alaoui (Jiango Films)
Margaux Lorier (Envie de Tempête Productions)
Frédéric Dubreuil

DIRECTOR
Sofia Alaoui

SCREENWRITER
Sofia Alaoui

CINEMATOGRAPHER
Noé Bach

SOUND ENGINEER
Nani Chaouki

MUSIC (COMPOSER)
Amine Bouhafa

EDITOR
Héloïse Pelloquet

SOUND EDITORS
Sébastien Savine
Marie Mazière

RE-RECORDING MIXER
Paul Jousselin

SOUND MIXER (Re-recording mixer)
Nani Chaouki

BOOM OPERATOR
Samir Abdelmoumen

FOLEY MIXER
Vincent Verdoux

FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Tam Slimani

FIRST ASSISTANT CAMERA
Sofiane Amly

GAFFER
Driss Marzak

SCRIPT SUPERVISOR
Margot Seban

PUBLICIST
Benoit Berthe Siward


PRODUCTION
Jiango Films (Morocco)
Envie de Tempête Productions (France)


FESTIVALS / AWARDS
* Selection: Drama Out of Competition /// Carthage Film Festival - JCC 2021 (Tunis, Tunisia, 2021)
* Selection - AFROFUTURISTIK /// 43rd Cinémed - Festival International du Cinéma Méditerranéen de Montpellier (2021, Montpellier, France) | Screening: Tuesday 19 Oct 2021, 16:00, CORUM - SALLE EINSTEIN | www.cinemed.tm.fr/film/quimporte-si-les-betes-meurent
* Winner : Best Short Film (César du Meilleur Court métrage), for Sofia Alaoui, Margaux Lorier, Frédéric Dubreuil /// 46th César Awards (Paris, France, 2021)
* Nominee - Grand Prize International Competition /// Asiana International Short Film Festival 2020
* Winner - Prix du jury (Court métrage français) /// Champs-Élysées Film Festival 2020 (Paris, France, 2020)
* Nomine - Maskoon Fantastic Film Festival (Lebanon, 10 June 2020)
* Nominee: Brief Encounters Grand Prix (International Competition) /// Encounters Film Festival 2020 (UK, Sept 18-2020 - Oct 11-2020), Digital Edition
* Nominee - Bill Douglas Award for International Short Film (Best Short) /// Glasgow Short Film Festival 2021
* Nominee - Best International Short /// Palm Springs International ShortFest (USA, 2020)
* Nominee - Bronze Horse (Best Short Film) /// Stockholm Film Festival 2020
* Winner - Short Film Grand Jury Prize (Best Short Film) /// Sundance Film Festival (USA, 2020)