Maryam Touzani was born in 1980 in Tangier, Morocco, where she spent her youth before moving to London to pursue her university degree. She worked as a writer alongside her husband Nabil Ayouch on his acclaimed film Razzia (2017), as well as portraying one of the main characters. Her debut short film When They Slept (2012) was screened at several renowned international festivals, and received a total of 17 awards. Her second short film Aya Goes to the Beach (2015) also gained significant recognition, and was granted the Audience Award at the Cairo International Women’s Film Festival. Adam (2019), Touzani’s first feature film, was screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the 72nd Cannes Film Festival.