Baya Zarai
About
Baya Zarai
Baya Zarai is a Moroccan filmmaker based in Marrakech, with Tunisian roots. From a young age, she was captivated by the magic that unfolds behind the scenes of filmmaking. At just eight years old, she began her musical journey at the conservatory, mastering the piano and earning her diploma by the age of sixteen. It was during this time that she discovered her love for cinema after watching Roman Polanski’s The Pianist. The powerful portrayal of war, combined with the haunting composition of Frédéric Chopin that she practiced, ignited her curiosity about the filmmaking process and the artistry behind those moments. The melodies she learned on the piano further fueled her desire for musical composition, intertwining her passion for both sound and visuals.
Baya also vividly remembers watching Titanic, directed by James Cameron, at the age of thirteen. The film’s emotional depth and the tragic scenes of the ship sinking awakened a yearning within her to tell stories that resonate deeply with audiences.
She attended the École Supérieure des Arts Visuels in Marrakech, where she refined her expertise and expanded her artistic vision in the field of audiovisual arts, recognized as one of the best film and art institutions in Africa and ranked globally among film schools. During her studies, she chose to specialize in sound engineering, seamlessly blending her musical expertise with storytelling. Her acute auditory sensitivity enriched her sound editing, mixing, and on-site recording, allowing her to craft immersive auditory experiences. Her innovative use of sound became a hallmark of her style, fusing classical techniques with modern approaches to evoke powerful emotional responses.
Despite her passion, there were moments of doubt and challenges that made it difficult to continue in a field where art is not always valued, particularly in her community. Her challenges as a woman in a male-dominated industry have strengthened her determination to make her voice heard and bring her unique feminine perspective to the field of audiovisual arts. Every time she considered giving up, she recalled the faces she encountered while filming her documentaries—those moments when their eyes lit up upon seeing themselves on screen. The profound impact of cinema in shaping perceptions and giving a voice to those who need it most has driven her to persevere, deeply convinced of the importance of the stories she aspires to tell.
Despite her deep love for sound, which taught her invaluable skills, Baya developed a strong interest in directing, production, staging, dramaturgy, and psychology. More than filming documentaries, she was captivated by the investigative work, research, and profound human encounters they fostered. Drawn to people, their realities, and emotions, she seeks to translate these into meaningful narratives.
Through her first documentary, Libre Soy, she discovered her passion for capturing real stories and shaping them into visual and auditory experiences that resonate with audiences. This reinforced her belief in storytelling’s power to reveal hidden truths and forge deep connections.
After a successful bachelor’s project producing a short television program, Baya pursued a master’s degree in cinema. During this time, she contributed to a short film blending stop-motion animation with live action. As part of the sound and music department, she played a key role in crafting a fantastical, dreamlike universe through sound design, mixing, and effects, while also collaborating on set design—further enriching her multidimensional approach to storytelling.
For her final-year project, Baya directed 3+One, a psychological docufiction blending documentary authenticity with theatrical expression. More than a film, it marked a turning point—an invitation to expand beyond sound into a multidisciplinary approach, weaving psychology, human sciences, imagery, and dramaturgy.
This experience deepened her understanding of human emotions and narrative construction, reinforcing her desire to craft stories that resonate on multiple sensory and intellectual levels. In this fusion of research and artistic experimentation, she found her voice—one eager to transcend disciplines and redefine audiovisual storytelling.
With the soul of an artist, Baya embraces a broad creative path, spanning cinema—documentary, fiction, and animation—alongside other artistic disciplines that enrich her storytelling. She aspires to merge her experiences and cultural influences into narratives that transcend borders.
For Baya, art is a language—one that amplifies unheard voices, connects cultures, and explores the emotions that unite us all. She believes in its power to shift perspectives, awaken empathy, and inspire change. As she embarks on this journey, she hopes to craft stories that resonate, move, and reveal our shared humanity.