nawell madani-Director

 

Paris-based actress and comedian Nawell Madani, best known for her time on Jamel Comedy Club, has dived headfirst into the world of cinema with her debut film C’est tout pour moi [+]. Largely autobiographical, the film traces the journey of a young woman determined to make it, from the high-rise towers of Marolles in Brussels to the bright lights of Paris.

Nawell Madani: I’m a young woman from Brussels who left my hometown to chase the classic dream—conquering Paris and becoming a comedian! I started out as a dancer and choreographer, but I couldn’t make a living from my art in Belgium, where there’s little space for dance or stand-up. It’s been 10 years since I moved to Paris, and in that time, I’ve gone from dancer and choreographer to comedian, and now to director and screenwriter with my first film.

 I wrote my own show, and a producer approached me, suggesting I turn it into a film. At first, I wasn’t sure the adaptation would work, so I pitched him something different to protect the original idea of sharing my experience. But in doing so, I found inspiration from my own story. I wanted to shed light on what goes on behind the scenes in worlds we rarely see in films, especially French cinema—like stand-up and dance battles. These are incredibly tough environments for women, and when a girl steps into those circles, she has to hang on for dear life, be a fighter, and push back hard.