Marie Pierre-Bouthier

Marie Pierre-Bouthier is a Lecturer in History and Aesthetics of Documentary Cinema at the University of Picardie Jules Verne, a position she has held since September 2021. She combines her academic work with practical engagement as a film programmer for Maghreb des films and active participation in film preservation initiatives in Morocco.

Her educational background includes a doctorate in film history from the University of Paris 1 and studies at the prestigious École Normale Supérieure de Paris in Cinema and Arab Studies. This strong academic foundation supports her specialized research in documentary cinema and Maghrebi film traditions.

Professor Pierre-Bouthier's research focuses on the intersection of documentary film, politics, and memory in authoritarian contexts, particularly examining how filmmakers navigate censorship while pursuing their political and aesthetic goals. Her work emphasizes:

• The political, poetic and memorial dimensions of documentary cinema
• Resistance cinema in the Maghreb region
• Transnational trajectories of North African filmmakers
• Decolonization of the gaze and alternative documentary approaches
• Preservation of film archives in Morocco

Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on Moroccan and North African cinema, with particular attention to historical contexts from the 1960s to the present. Her work examines how filmmakers from the region have navigated political constraints while developing distinctive cinematic voices and approaches.

Professor Pierre-Bouthier actively collaborates with preservation initiatives:

• Works with Bouanani Archives to preserve Moroccan cinematic heritage
• Collaborates with Talitha association on film preservation projects
• Contributes to the 'Les Archives Bouanani' blog documenting 50 years of Moroccan cinema
• Writes film chronicles for the Moroccan history magazine Zamane

Her current research projects examine the training experiences of Maghrebi filmmakers in European and North American film schools, as well as 'social intervention' films produced by the Tunisian Federation of Amateur Filmmakers, reflecting her ongoing commitment to understanding how cinematic practices develop within specific political and social contexts.