AMANAR: Empowering Moroccan Filmmakers at the Marrakech Short Film Festival
The AMANAR initiative, part of the Marrakech Short Film Festival, is set to significantly bolster the support structures for emerging filmmakers. This year, it has earmarked five Moroccan projects for a comprehensive development program that aims to extend well beyond the festival itself. A highlight of this initiative will occur on September 30 with the "Pitch Your Short" event, which is designed to showcase new talent.
In Marrakech, short films are not merely confined to cinema screens; they are also being actively produced behind the scenes. For its sixth edition, the Marrakech Short Film Festival is enhancing its efforts with AMANAR, a professional platform dedicated to the development, production, and distribution of films. This initiative is a culmination of dedicated work over the past few editions, encompassing networking opportunities, masterclasses, and direct support for directors.
Under the AMANAR banner, these diverse activities are now consolidated and given greater visibility, with the clear ambition to connect young Moroccan filmmakers with industry professionals capable of financing, co-producing, distributing, or selecting their films. The inaugural edition of AMANAR has brought together twelve industry professionals from renowned events like the Cannes Film Festival, CNC, FESPACO, the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, ZINEBI, and El Gouna. Following two days of "Industry Days" on September 26 and 27, five Moroccan directors participated in a closed Development Lab on September 28 and 29, where they worked on their projects alongside five experienced mentors.
As Hiba El Abkari, the head of the development and production program for AMANAR, succinctly puts it: "At this stage, a director should not be left alone." The support continues beyond the festival, as the five filmmakers will receive guidance for an additional twelve months and will travel to Cairo in 2027 to collaborate with Egyptian industry professionals. This initiative also aims to create tangible opportunities for the filmmakers; one of the projects will be invited to ZINEBI in Bilbao this November, while Atlantis Studios Marrakech will handle the post-production for another project.
Through these efforts, AMANAR is not only nurturing the next generation of Moroccan filmmakers but also setting a precedent for the future of film production in the region, ensuring that talent has the necessary infrastructure to thrive.
As reported by latribunedemarrakech.com.
