Moroccan filmmaker and playwright Nabil Lahlou dies at 81

Moroccan filmmaker, actor, and playwright Nabil Lahlou passed away on Thursday in Rabat at the age of 81, according to his family.

Lahlou left a lasting mark on Moroccan cinema through several major works, including Kanfoudi (1978), his first major success, The Governor General of the Island of Chakerbakerbane (1980), Ibrahim Yash (1984), and The Braying Soul (1984).

In theater, Lahlou became known for adapting Shakespeare’s works, notably through his 1968 play Ophelia Is Not Dead, inspired by the character from Hamlet. His production Salahef (The Turtles) was also considered a breakthrough in Moroccan theater.

His latest work, Macha Machmacha Wants a Role in the Film The Trial of Socrates, was presented in March 2026 at the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat.