What happens when the centuries-old oral storytelling of Moroccan master Mohammed Mrabet meets cutting-edge technology?
The documentary Mohammed & Paul – Once Upon a Time in Tangier – that had world premiere at IDFA 2025- follows director NordinLasfar and cinematographer/AI artist Jean Counet as they explore Mrabet’s complex friendship with American writer Paul Bowles, who translated his cassette-recorded tales for Western audiences—raising questions of creative synergy versus colonial exploitation in 1950s Tangier.
Blending three decades of cinematography experience with generative AI, the filmmakers visualize Mrabet’s magical, intimate, and abstract stories—like talking fish or palaces inside melons—without relying on traditional reenactments.
In this case study, they reveal their hybrid workflow and reflect on using AI not as a gimmick, but as a vital tool to preserve soul and authenticity while bringing unseen inner worlds to life.
Jean Charles Counet creates images that do not yet exist. With over two decades of experience as a cinematographer and more than 100 documentaries and feature films to his credit, Jean Charles Counet has traveled the globe in search of visual truth.
Today, he merges this traditional craftsmanship with the boundless possibilities of Generative Video and AI. This unique hybrid approach bridges the soul of human storytelling with the innovation of tomorrow. Whether it’s high-end documentaries or surreal AI campaigns that go beyond the lens, Jean translates narratives into a resonant visual language. His strength lies in observation, trust, and the profound simplicity of the image
Nordin Lasfar studied economics and made his debut at IDFA 2007 with his documentary Panna!. It was nominated for best debut at the Netherlands Film Festival and purchased by international broadcasters such as Al Jazeera. From 2009 onwards, he worked as a freelance director for VPRO Tegenlicht, among others. For that program, he made television documentaries, including Goudzoekers in Youtubeland, Schaliecowboys, and Alfamannen. Nordin was a member of the jury for the Karen de Bok Talent Award 2020 and was previously a member of the documentary committee at the Film Fund and the Media Fund.