Valentina El Harizi

At just the age of 17, Valentina El Harizi was nominated - among actresses like Ana de Armas - for the prestigious Septimius Awards in Amsterdam for her performance on her directorial debut short film titled "Behind the Scenes". Her clever and witty storytelling, coupled with her unique heritage and background, has allowed her to create impactful films that resonate with audiences. Valentina's dedication to her craft and her ability to bring characters to life on screen have garnered recognition and praise within the industry. Inspired by everyday absurdity, Valentina's artistic choices are heavily defined by their ironic/satirical undertones, surrealist qualities, and European cinema influences. For example, for her debut film, she chose to break from conventional filmmaking/acting rules: keeping the light fixture setups in her shots, using stylized "unnatural" nature sounds to emphasize the lack of authenticity in today's digital world, and breaking the fourth wall, among other innovations.