"The Gold Q-Hugo goes to BOUCHRA, directed by Orian Barki and Meriem Bennani, a heartfelt and evocative film that mixes animation and docu-fiction; in a year that highlights genre, this film boldly defies it. Rather than a coming-out story, audiences are invited inward to explore how an artist externalizes the queerness of life into the tapestry of storytelling. Anthropomorphic characters lend their voices to make sense of a mother's struggle to accept her child's sexuality, while showing the beauty of chosen family filling in the gaps. Longtime collaborators Barki and Bennani peel back layered modes of storytelling to depict relationships brimming with humor and authenticity. It's a narrative that creates a mirror for the things left unseen, in fact, BOUCHRA is a genre all its own."
