“Eldorado, the taste of the South”, interview with producer, Francesca Duca

“Eldorado, the taste of the South” interview with producer Francesca Duca

Francesca Duca, producer (from Le Moindre Geste) of Eldorado, the taste of the South by Tunisian director and screenwriter Alaa Eddine Aljem. Eldorado, the taste of the South is one of the six feature films selected at the 14th edition of Final Cut in Venice 2026, the program of Venice Film Festival and Venice Production Bridge that supports film in post-production from all African countries and six countries of the Middle East (Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen).

Eldorado, the taste of the South explores the themes of migration and societal borders, blending humour and melancholy, which are hallmark elements of Alaa Eddine Aljem’s unique cinematic language. We discussed the film’s story, co-production challenges, and future steps for this compelling project.

Alaa Eddine Aljem’s cinematic cinematic language

The film Eldorado, the taste of the South is Alaa Eddine Aljem’s second feature, following his debut The Unknown Saint, premiered in Cannes Critics Week in 2019. Francesca Duca explains that the movie explores the universal quest for a better life, using a mix of humour and melancholy to depict a utopian island where Saharan African and Moroccan migrants believe they can find peace and prosperity. The narrative highlights how different groups react to this strange society, using cinema to mirror real capitalist struggles, and its focus on socio-economic themes through a poetic lens.

A Challanging Co-Production

The production process for Eldorado, the taste of the South has been an odyssey, with financing and co-production challenges over the past six years. Francesca Duca shares that the project involved collaborations with Morocco, France, Italy, Norway, and other partners. She details how initial financing fell through when a French partner pulled out just before shooting, which delayed the process but ultimately led to strong new alliances. The film’s development required resilience, with support from multiple institutions like CNC, Morocco, the French Cinema du Monde, Norway, Red Sea Film Festival, reflecting the international nature of this project. The complex process underscores the importance of solid partnerships, a theme that resonates with the collaborative spirit of Eldorado, the taste of the South, highlighting cross-cultural storytelling and international cooperation.

The Shooting and the Post-Production

Currently, the film is in post-production, having wrapped shooting in Marrakech and Italy. Francesca Duca describes the creative choices made, including building Eldorado, the taste of the South in Moroccan studios like Jacaranda and shooting additional scenes in Rome. The film’s visuals involve a mix of studio sets and physical locations, emphasizing the contrast between the utopian society and the real-world struggles of migrants. Francesca Duca emphasizes their confidence in the film’s potential, especially with the support of their sales agent, BFF, based in Belgium, and support from various cultural funds. The aim is to push Eldorado, the taste of the South through festivals and markets, with a focus on its timely commentary on migration and societal borders. The upcoming stages include final editing and festival submissions, with anticipation of future recognition in international markets.

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