Hind Bensari (Arabic: هند بن ساري; born 1987), is a Moroccan filmmaker.[1][2] She is well known as the director that made critically acclaimed documentary films: 475: Break the Silence and We Could Be Heroes.[3]

Hind Bensari
هند بن ساري
Born
Hind Bensari

1987
NationalityMoroccan
Danish
Alma materUniversity of Edinburgh
London School of Economics and Political Science
Occupation(s)Director, TEDx speaker
Years active2013–present

Personal life edit

She was born in 1987 in Casablanca, Morocco. However at very young age, she moved to London.[3] Bensari graduated with a degree in Economics and Middle-Eastern studies from the University of Edinburgh. She also holds a certificate in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.[4]

She is married to a Danish businessman and currently lives in Denmark.[1]

Career edit

In 2014, she returned Morocco to make her maiden documentary short film was 475: Break the Silence.[3] It has contributed to a movement in Morocco to that succeeded in repealing a new law that allowed men accused of rape to marry their victims. The film won critical acclaim from the New York Times and Germany's ARD channel as well as was an internet sensation.[5] It also broke the audience record at 2M TV in Morocco and broadcast in other countries including Denmark, Portugal, Canada and sold for more than 20 worldwide channels. She is also a TEDx speaker.[1]

On 2 May 2018, she released the film We Could Be Heroes which was premiered at 2018 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival. The film is based on a story of two disabled friends, Azzedine and Youssef, who dreams to break out of the prison and compete in Rio Paralympic Games.[5] The film won the Jury Prize at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.[4] The film was also won the "Best International Documentary Award" in Toronto International Film Festival, becoming the first African filmmaker to receive the award.[3] Then the film won Grand Prix at the Tangier National Film Festival.[6]

Filmography edit

Year Film Role Genre Ref.
2014 475: Break the Silence Director documentary short film [7]
2018 We Could Be Heroes Director documentary film [8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Hind Bensari". Tribeca Film Festival. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Hind Bensari: director". MUBI. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "Moroccan Filmmaker Hind Bensari Wins Documentary Award in Canada". Morocco World News. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Hind Bensari: Director". festivalmarrakech. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Hot Docs 2018 Women Directors: Meet Hind Bensari— "We Could Be Heroes"". Women and Hollywood. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  6. ^ "We could be Heroes says Hind Bensari". Next Century Foundation. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Hind Bensari, l'autodidacte engagée". femmesdumaroc. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  8. ^ "We Could Be Heroes". DFI. Retrieved 8 October 2020.

External links edit