Introduction to AMANAR and Industry Days
The AMANAR professional platform, inaugurated during the Marrakech Short Film Festival, has officially launched its "Industry Days" program. This initiative is designed to support screenwriters, directors, producers, and emerging professionals in the film industry as they develop their projects. The 2026 edition, taking place from September 26 to 30, features twelve industry professionals participating in two days of meetings and a project development lab dedicated to five selected Moroccan projects, alongside an open session titled "Pitch Your Short" aimed at industry stakeholders.
Key Highlights and Discussions
The "Industry Days," organized on September 26 and 27, provides a comprehensive pathway from scriptwriting and development to production, sales, and festival showcases for accredited professionals. Day one focused on critical issues surrounding the development of African films, including the true costs of post-production and the transformations brought about by artificial intelligence. Discussions continued with insights on co-production mechanisms within the Arab world, followed by a masterclass dedicated to the international sales of short films.
The day concluded with a presentation of support offered by the French National Center for Cinema and Moving Images, complemented by a roundtable discussion on co-production with France. The second day delved into co-production experiences between the Arab world and Europe, analyzing two specific projects, while also addressing the writing and production of hybrid films about exile. This day wrapped up with a session on the selection processes for films in festivals.
Building on the "Industry Days," the "Project Development Lab" scheduled for September 28 and 29 will focus on five Moroccan projects chosen through closed sessions. This program allows directors to benefit from guidance provided by five mentors, aiming to enhance their project writing and development before presenting them to industry professionals.
The AMANAR program will reach its pinnacle on September 30 with the "Pitch Your Short" event, where the five directors will pitch their projects to international producers, distributors, film sales agents, and festival programmers, followed by a Q&A session with industry audiences. The best project presentation will receive the "AMANAR Development Award," while the International Documentary and Short Film Festival will invite one project to Bilbao, Spain, in November 2026. Furthermore, the Atlantis Marrakech studio will handle the post-production phase of another project.
Alongside this edition, the AMANAR program aims to establish long-term support for young filmmakers and encourage South-South cooperation. In 2027, the five directors will continue their work in Cairo with Egyptian mentors, after which the AMANAR team will support these projects for 12 months, facilitating connections with producers and guiding them towards the most suitable development labs and platforms for their initiatives.
As reported by maroc24.com.
