INTERVIEW with Leila Mesbahi
LEILA MESBAHI is a Moroccan screenwriter and director. A trained pharmacist based in Casablanca, she is passionate about cinema and writing. Driven by a deep need to tell stories and bear witness to the suffering around her, she chose to redirect her career toward filmmaking. She earned a degree in Audiovisual Studies from Studio M Casablanca, specializing in cinematography and directing. CASTING is her first short film.
Interview Q&A of Leila Mesbahi (Morocco)
How long have you been doing movies? How did you decide to start making movies?
Though I built my life as a pharmacist in Casablanca, a wife, and a mother of two, I’ve always been passionate about cinema and writing. One unexpected role in a short film changed everything: it awakened a deep need to tell stories that count. I followed that instinct, trained in filmmaking, and created my first film.
Why did you do this project?
I created CASTING as a thought-provoking piece that offers a raw look behind the scenes of the filmmaking world. Set during a casting session, the film highlights the complexities and harsh realities of the industry. It addresses important topics such as the #MeToo movement, ageism, the instability of an actor’s career, society’s obsession with fame, drug addiction, and perceptions of homosexuality within the film world.
Beyond its social themes, the project is also my personal tribute to cinema. I included several cinematic references as a nod to the directors and actors who have long inspired me.
(If you can say). How much budget did you have to do this project?
The film was produced with a budget of 25,000 USD.
Was it self-funded or did you get budget/producers/investors?
The project was entirely self-funded.
How long did it take from the initial idea to being able to release?
The entire process took six months.
Are you happy with the result?
Yes, I am quite satisfied with the final result. However, as a perfectionist, I can’t help thinking that there are certain shots I would approach differently if I had the chance to do it again.
What phase is this project in right now? Are you in the initial phase of sending it to festivals, middle phase or finishing the circuit?
The film is now in the final stages of its festival circuit.
How has your experience been with the festivals so far? Where do you think they should improve?
Overall, my festival experience has been very positive. My film has been selected in several festivals around the world and has already received three awards.
If I were to suggest an improvement, it would be better efforts to increase audience attendance at screenings, perhaps through stronger communication and by offering at least two screenings per film.
Could you tell us which platforms you use to submit your entries to festivals?
I mainly use FilmFreeway, Short Film Depot, and FilmFest.
Normally, filmmakers use many references, favorite directors, favorite movies, etc. Were you inspired by any director or film? If so, tell us your references. Many directors inspire me, and it is difficult to name them all. In this particular film, I make direct reference to Wes Anderson and Pedro Almodóvar, as well as to the classic Sunset Boulevard from the 1950s.
More broadly, I am also inspired by Alfred Hitchcock, Jean-Luc Godard, David Lynch, Christopher Nolan, Bong Joon-ho, Park Chan-wook, Woody Allen, Jafar Panahi, Youssef Chahine, Kaouther Ben Hania, Mira Nair, and many others.
Your favorite movie?
I have many favorite films, but some that stand out at the moment are Parasite by Bong Joon-ho, Anatomy of a Fall by Justine Triet, Whiplash by Damien Chazelle, The Lives of Others by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, and The Seed of the Sacred
Fig by Mohammad Rasoulof.
Favorite series?
Some of my current favorite series are Disclaimer, Ripley, and Baby Reindeer.
Do you see yourself making movies in 5 years? Where do you see yourself?
Absolutely. I see myself still writing and directing films in five years, and I hope that by then I will have completed my first feature film.
Do you have any other project in mind?
Yes, I am currently working on my next short film.
What do you ask for the future (cinematographically speaking)
I hope to continue creating films—the work I love most—while benefiting from stronger financial support and better guidance for emerging filmmakers like me.
Your best experience in a movie theater?
My most memorable moment was the premiere of CASTING at the National Film Festival in Tangier. I felt incredibly proud of the journey that had brought me to that moment.