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Sofia Alaoui’s debut feature Animalia will arrive in cinemas across the U.K. and Ireland on December 12. Distributed by the London-based TAPE Collective, the film earned critical attention after its premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, where it won a special jury prize for creative vision. At the heart of this haunting supernatural drama is a story about identity, resilience, and awakening, set against the backdrop of modern Morocco.
A journey between two worlds
Animalia follows Itto, played with striking depth by newcomer Oumaima Barid, a young woman from a modest rural background who suddenly finds herself navigating the world of her wealthy husband’s family. When unidentified supernatural forces disrupt life across the country, triggering a national emergency, Itto becomes isolated from her in-laws and is forced to embark on a perilous journey—both literal and symbolic.
As the supernatural begins to reflect the invisible boundaries between social classes and cultures, the film turns into something much more than a sci-fi drama. It becomes a tale of emancipation. I still think about one scene: Itto standing motionless in an eerie, abandoned desert road, trying to decide whether to wait to be rescued or to keep walking. In so few words, it says everything about her awakening.
The power behind the images
Sofia Alaoui didn’t just direct Animalia—she wrote and produced it too. Her creative control is palpable in every frame, helped by Noé Bach’s captivating cinematography and the sharp editing of Héloïse Pelloquet. The music, composed by Amine Bouhafa, adds a strange, almost spiritual undercurrent that blends naturally with the film’s unsettling tone. To read Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton face off in 2026’s Apex trailer
Alaoui’s approach is subtle, never relying on over-explained plot points or typical sci-fi tricks. Instead, she creates an atmosphere of slow-burning tension where the most terrifying thing is often the silence between two moments. For a first-time feature, that’s impressive.
Animalia was produced by a strong team including Wrong Films, Srab Films, Dounia Production, and Jiango Films. Alaoui is joined by producers Margaux Lorier, Toufik Ayadi, Christophe Barral, Dounia Benjelloun Mezian, and others. Co-producers and supporters such as Arte France Cinéma, Canal+, and the Moroccan Film Center contributed to the depth and reach of the project.
Themes rooted in today’s world
What makes Animalia stand out isn’t just its haunting mood or symbolic storytelling, but the way it weaves in big questions without ever preaching. The film addresses:
- Social class divides in contemporary Morocco
- Indigenous Amazigh identity and erasure
- The human relationship with nature and the unknown
Isra Al Kassi from TAPE Collective stressed how the film speaks to environmental issues and marginalized identities through a culturally anchored, yet deeply imaginative style. As a viewer, that’s where the film resonated most with me.
International perspectives and anticipation
International sales are handled by Totem Films, and the upcoming U.K. and Ireland release could mark a new chapter for Animalia. In a year where genre cinema has often leaned on spectacle, it’s refreshing to see a film that reaches the supernatural through emotion and introspection. To read Ranking Shyamalan’s Hits: Which Film Defines His Legacy?
Mehdi Dehbi and Fouad Oughaou round out the supporting cast, but it’s Oumaima Barid’s performance—and Sofia Alaoui’s uncompromising direction—that stay in your memory. Watching this film feels like stepping into a dream you half-recognize but can’t fully explain. Those are the ones that linger longest.
