BARZAKH
Directed by Anouar Ouardi
Morocco · 2026 · 19 min · Drama / Psychological Drama
Submitted to RTV International Film Festival 2026Synopsis
After three days of disappearance, Othmane, a former prisoner struggling with addiction, finds himself caught between reality, memory and hallucination. As he attempts to confront the consequences of his past and reconnect with the people he has lost, his perception of time begins to fracture. Voices, memories and imagined encounters blur the boundary between what is real and what exists only within his mind. BARZAKH is a psychological short film about addiction, guilt, second chances and the fragile space between the life we live and the life we wish we could have lived.
About the film
Othmane, a man in his thirties recently released from prison, is struggling with addiction and isolation. After disappearing for three days, he finds himself driving through a reality increasingly difficult to distinguish from his memories and hallucinations. A phone call from his friend Walid becomes one of the few remaining connections to the outside world. Along the way, Othmane encounters figures from his past, including his parents, whose presence gradually becomes uncertain. Their words, his memories and his own inner voice begin to overlap, forcing him to confront the person he has become. As the three-day countdown approaches its end, Othmane finds himself trapped in a psychological space between reality and illusion — a barzakh, a boundary between two states of existence. Through fragmented memories and shifting perceptions, the film explores addiction, guilt, family, isolation and the possibility of a second chance.
Director(s)
Anouar Ouardi is a Moroccan audiovisual filmmaker, editor and sound designer working across directing, post-production and music. With several years of experience in audiovisual production, he has developed skills in editing, sound recording, sound design, mixing, color grading and visual storytelling. His approach combines technical experimentation with an interest in psychological, cinematic and symbolic narratives. BARZAKH is his short-film project as writer and director, bringing together his work in directing, editing, sound and post-production.
Trailer
Watch the authorized trailer ↗
Film stills
Publicity materials supplied or expressly authorized by the rights holder. Publication is separate from festival selection.
RTV International Film Festival — Inaugural Online Edition · 2026