Mahi Binebine

Mahi Binebine is a celebrated Moroccan novelist, painter, and screenwriter whose work has earned international recognition. Born in Marrakech in 1959, he moved to Paris in 1980 to study mathematics and later taught the subject before dedicating his career to literature and visual art. He also lived in New York from 1994 to 1999, where his paintings were acquired by the Guggenheim Museum. Since returning to Marrakech, he has continued producing acclaimed novels and artworks while promoting arts education for disadvantaged youth.

Binebine is best known in the film industry as the author of the novel The Stars of Sidi Moumen, which was adapted into the award-winning film Horses of God (2012), directed by Nabil Ayouch. The film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival and brought international attention to both the novel and its social themes. Alongside Nabil Ayouch, he also co-leads the Les Étoiles cultural centers established by the Ali Zaoua Foundation, providing free access to arts and culture for young people in underserved Moroccan communities.