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Casablanca – French filmmaker and novelist François Szabowski is bringing his unique artistic vision to Morocco this year as his short film “Notifications” competes in the International Selection for the prestigious Belarj Prize for Best Director at the Marrakech Short Film Festival.
Born in 1977 and based in Paris, Szabowski is a multidisciplinary artist whose career spans literature, theatre, comics, and cinema.
A celebrated novelist since the release of his debut book “Les majorettes, elles, savent parler d’amour,” in 2011, he has since penned numerous works blending irony, paradox, and sharp social observation, including “L’amour est une maladie ordinaire” and “États d’urgence.”
His writing has earned him critical acclaim, literary prizes, and the admiration of figures such as Amélie Nothomb. Alongside his literary output, Szabowski has written for the stage and collaborated on illustrative narratives, all while nurturing a parallel passion for filmmaking.
His focus on cinema intensified in recent years. After directing several shorts and the feature film “Des voix,” which won Best Director at the International Film Festival of Brittany, he now turns his lens toward “Notifications,” a ten-minute, single-take short that marks a striking departure from his previous style.
Reclaiming our imperfections and vulnerability in an AI-saturated world
Speaking to Morocco World News, Szabowski described the project as a personal and artistic turning point.
“It’s a film without cuts, without montage, ten minutes of pure human interaction. I wanted to embrace uncertainty, fragility, and the organic energy that only comes from collaboration between people. In a world where AI can replicate technical skills, our humanity, imperfections, and subjectivity are what remain truly ours,” he said.
Visually, “Notifications” is minimalist yet meticulously choreographed, with Szabowski using subtle camera movements to peel away layers of performance, revealing the hidden emotions and unspoken tensions between the characters.
The director draws on the same fascination with masks and façades that runs through his novels, exploring the human tendency to conceal vulnerability behind social roles.
“We’re all playing parts, often not very well,” he reflected. “My aim was to make those masks fall, to remind us of our shared fragility.”
The Marrakech Short Film Festival, now a key event on the city’s cultural calendar, celebrates emerging and established talents from across the globe. With its international selection and emphasis on innovative storytelling, it provides a fitting stage for “Notifications,” a work that pushes boundaries in both form and theme.
As Szabowski’s film screens alongside other contenders for the Belarj Prize, the French director remains true to the multidisciplinary spirit that defines his career, bridging literature, theater, and cinema in a singular vision.
Whether or not he takes home the award, his “Notifications” stands as a testament to his belief that in art as in life, what is imperfect is often what is most profoundly human.
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