July // 2026
The real locations behind Calle Málaga in Tangier
Calle Málaga
Director and writer Maryam Touzani grew up in Tangier. Her Spanish grandmother lived there her entire life. When Touzani began developing Calle Málaga, she didn't start with a script. She started with a memory. And a city. Calle Málaga was filmed entirely on location in Tangier, Morocco, focusing on real neighbourhoods and historic landmarks rather than studio sets, grounding the story in authentic spaces.
The film tells the story of María Ángeles — 79 years old, Spanish, a widow who has lived in Tangier her entire life — whose daughter arrives from Madrid with a plan to sell the apartment. María refuses.
Deadline's Pete Hammond called the performance "a joy." The Hollywood Reporter said Maura brings "earthy naturalness, sly humor and tenacious spirit." She won the Venice Audience Award.
The Apartment
Half the film takes place inside a single apartment. Located in a lively stretch of the Medina on the climb toward the Casbah, the real apartment is owned by an elderly American woman who has preserved its original Spanish-style architecture. Touzani explained that although half of the film takes place inside the apartment and could have been shot on a studio set, she wanted the location to "have a soul." She described it as "a character in itself," noting that its walls have witnessed decades of María Ángeles' life.
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The Medina and the Casbah
Much of the film takes place in the narrow streets of Tangier's historic Medina, particularly the areas leading up to the Casbah. These locations frame María Ángeles' daily routines and her interactions with neighbours, emphasising the intimacy and resilience of the local community. The Medina is alive and slightly chaotic and full of competing smells and sounds.
The Gran Teatro Cervantes
Near the entrance of the Medina, close to the Grand Socco, stands the Gran Teatro Cervantes. Built in 1913 by Don Manuel Peña and his wife Esperanza Orellana, prominent members of Tangier's Spanish community. It was once one of the most prestigious theatres in North Africa. Today it stands empty. The Gran Teatro Cervantes appears in Calle Málaga as a symbolic backdrop. A Spanish institution in a Moroccan city, magnificent and forgotten.
Principal photography wrapped in Tangier in January 2025.
SOURCE
Wikipedia // 4Filming // IFFR // La Biennale di Venezia // The Hollywood Reporter
CREDITS
© Ali'n Productions, Les Films du Nouveau Monde, Mod Producciones, One Two Films, Velvet Films
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