World Premiere / Morocco / 2024 / Arabic w/English subtitles / 114 min / Drama, Mystery, Suspense
Director, Writer: Jerome Cohen-Olivar; Producers: Zhor Rose Fassi-Fihri.
Key Cast: Lounba Abidar.
Contact: zhorff@z-films.com
Malika is the mother of Adam, a boy with severe autism. She lives in constant fear of one day leaving him behind. Her life swings between terror, loneliness, uncertainty, and outbursts—yet also love, complicity, hope, and fleeting freedom. After a tragic event, Malika considers placing Adam in a specialized facility. In her despair, an unexpected encounter changes everything.
Mahmoud, a cemetery keeper with torn clothes and a wild gaze, speaks with the dead at night and dances to music by day. He and Adam bond instantly, communicating not with words but with their souls. They grow inseparable, sharing wild adventures. But their closeness soon becomes unsettling, and Malika, uneasy with this new friendship, finally asks Mahmoud to stay away from her son.
SPECIAL GUESTS: Jérôme Cohen‑Olivar, Zhor Fassi Fihri, and Amina Benhaddou.
Director Biography – Jerome Cohen-Olivar
He spent most of his childhood in Morocco where he shot small horror films (LITTLE HORROR MOVIE) in Super 8MM before leaving for Los Angeles. He studied college at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and later at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute.
Her first short film SUSAN SUSAN, a satire about illegal immigration to the United States, was bought by Disney. He produced his first feature film, UNVEILED. The film was not as successful as expected in cinemas but sold well on video. COOL CRIME, a bitter comedy about a gang of ghosts wandering in Los Angeles opens the PALM SPRINGS festival and allows the director to sign with the artistic agency CCA. In 2008, the director signs KANDISHA, a fantasy film inspired by a Moroccan legend AISHA KANDISHA dating from the nineteenth century, the film becomes cult. In 2014, OREN PELI, the filmmaker
behind planetary success PARANORMAL ACTIVITY optionne LITTLE HORROR MOVIE. Not supporting the famous DEVELOPMENT HELL. Jerome decides to recover his script and produce it himself. Jérôme is currently working on several projects including the highly anticipated AUTISTO
Director Statement
The film “AUTISTO” directed by Jérôme Cohen-Olivar presents several interesting perspectives including the Exploration of new narrative and visual horizons especially as Morocco offers a picturesque and diverse setting. This provides a visually captivating backdrop for the film’s history, which can enrich the cinematic experience and offer new narrative possibilities.
AUTISTO is also embarking on Autism Awareness in a different cultural context: Locating the film in Morocco would explore the specific challenges and opportunities faced by people with autism in that country or in other similar cultural contexts. This could help raise awareness of autism in a way that takes into account cultural nuances and local realities. However, there is also International Collaboration and Cultural Exchange: Making a film in Morocco usually involves collaboration with Moroccan film professionals, which can promote the exchange of ideas, techniques and experiences between international and local production teams. This can enrich the creative process and result in a more diverse and authentic end product.
Tourism and Local Film Industry Promotion: Shooting a film in Morocco can also help promote tourism in the country by showcasing its natural and cultural attractions. In addition, it can boost the local film industry by providing employment opportunities and
drawing attention to the talent and resources available in the country. Not to mention increased international visibility: If the film is well received, it could benefit from increased international visibility due to its location in Morocco and the country’s growing reputation as an attractive location for international film productions.