Rabat, November 04, 2025 – The Europe Today: Moroccan actress Nadia Kounda has won the Best Actress Award at the Brussels International Film Festival for her outstanding performance in “Les Fourmis” (The Ants), directed by Yassine Fennane.
Produced in 2025, Les Fourmis was one of only five feature films selected for the festival’s international competition from among 250 submissions reviewed by the selection committee.
Set in Tangier, the 90-minute film offers a poignant and deeply human exploration of often unseen migration journeys. It has emerged as one of the most internationally acclaimed Moroccan films of 2025, having been screened in Durban, Paris, and Brussels, with upcoming showings scheduled in London, New York, Nairobi, and Kinshasa.
Part of a new North African cinematic movement that examines African migration from within the continent, Les Fourmis interweaves three powerful narratives: Félicité, a Cameroonian migrant determined to bury her late friend with dignity; Hamid, a father torn between duty and ambition; and Kenza, a young bourgeois woman in search of personal freedom. Their intersecting paths reveal a compelling social tapestry of poverty, migration, dreams, and disillusionment.
Born in Casablanca in 1989, Kounda began her acting career in Morocco around 2008, gaining prominence for her leading role in “L’Amante du Rif” (2011). She later moved to Montreal, Canada, where she studied film production and expanded her international career. Her acclaimed performance in “Volubilis” (2017) previously earned her the Best Actress Award at the El Gouna Film Festival.
Another Moroccan production, “Une Histoire de vacances” (A Holiday Story) by Malika Zairi, also featured in the 10th edition of the Brussels International Film Festival, held from October 28 to November 1. Competing in the short film category, Zairi’s film delves into themes of identity tension and generational conflict within Moroccan diaspora families.
Organized annually across Brussels and several African cities, the Brussels International Film Festival serves as a cultural bridge between African and European cinema, celebrating bold, innovative works and promoting African creative expression on the global stage.
