Mad World Takes Seloua El Gouni’s Moroccan Feminist Drama ‘The Wound’ Starring Oumaïma Barid (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Dubai-based sales company Mad World has taken global rights to feminist drama “The Wound,” which marks the directorial debut of Morocco’s Seloua El Gouni, who has experience as a production manager on Hollywood titles such as “A Hologram for the King” and “Men in Black: International.” “The Wound” (“La Plaie”) stars rising Arab talent Oumaïma Barid, who gained global notice in Sofia Alaoui’s 2023 Sundance title “Animalia.” Barid plays a young woman named Leila who is trying to pursue her passions and ambitions while contending with Morocco’s societal constraints and becomes pregnant in an extramarital love affair.

The promising drama’s Moroccan A-list cast also comprises rising star Brice Bexter (“Redemption Day,” “Seneca”); Amal Ayouch (“Eye on Juliet”); Mansour Badri (“Ghosts of Beirut”); Soraya Azzabi (“Billie’s Magic World”); Abdelhak Saleh (“Hounds”); and Sami Fekkak (“Testament: Story of Moses”). “The Wound” is being produced by El Gouni and Taha Benghalem through their Marrakech-based company Pink Sheep Productions, which they co-founded after Benghalem served as general manager of the two top Moroccan film production facilities, Atlas Corporation Studios and CLA Studios.

Benghalem also wrote the screenplay for “The Wound,” while Brice Bexter served as the drama’s co-writer alongside his brother Brian Bexter. “‘The Wound’ has been a profound journey for us at Pink Sheep Productions,” Benghalem said in a statement. “Through Leila’s story, we aimed to shine a light on the critical issues of women’s rights and personal freedom.