The vibrant city of Marrakech is gearing up to welcome the sixth edition of the Marrakech Short Film Festival (MARRAKECHsFF), which will take place from September 25 to September 30, 2026. This year’s festival embraces the theme of cultural diplomacy, emphasizing the important role that cinema plays in fostering international dialogue and collaboration.
The festival organizers have unveiled the official selection of films that will be showcased during this edition, after receiving over 400 short films from more than 90 countries across all five continents. This impressive number highlights the festival's growing international stature and its commitment to transforming Marrakech into a hub for the exchange of creative works, ideas, and talents.
According to the festival's press release, the sixth edition particularly underscores the significance of cultural diplomacy as a core element of the Marrakech Short Film Festival's mission. Through the medium of short films, the festival aims to build bridges between nations, enhance cultural dialogue, and unite artists, institutions, and professionals around a common language: creativity.
In addition to its international outreach, the festival is strengthening its local presence by engaging with several iconic venues across Marrakech. These include the historic Palais Badi, Cyber Park gardens, The Folk, the French Institute in Marrakech, Meydene, and the World Storytelling Café, positioning cinema at the heart of the city and facilitating interactions between international guests, Moroccan professionals, and the local audience.
National Competition: Spotlight on Emerging Moroccan Talent
The national competition remains a cornerstone of the festival, shining a light on a new generation of Moroccan filmmakers and talents, providing them with a platform to showcase their work and create opportunities for networking with professionals and institutions from various countries.
This year’s Belarj Prize selection includes films such as "Fading Candle" by Ismail Ait Lahcen, "Aicha" by Thna Al-Alwi, "Two Ways" by Yassine Ighnifar, "Mesk Ellil" by Rami Adnan, and "Behind the Curtain’s Edge" by Qassem Skall. For the Nakhil Prize, the selected entries feature "Aicha" by Thna Al-Alwi, "Two Ways" by Yassine Ighnifar, and "Paradise Garden" by Sonia Al-Turab. Meanwhile, the Behja Prize has shortlisted works by Aziz Hatab for "Phone Breaker," Sandia Tajeddine for "Les Liens Invisibles," Khadija Salamadina for "Paradise Garden," and Mohamed Ben Saltana for "65 Days." In addition, the national selection outside of competition includes four films: "Quo Vadis Meryem" by Amin Zriouh, "With the Wind" by Inas Lahyer, "Investigation" by Marwan Shakir, and "Crawling Birds" by Karim Taj.
International Competition: A Platform for Dialogue
The international competition showcases an array of works from filmmakers hailing from countries such as Italy, Iraq, China, Portugal, Australia, Albania, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Spain, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Japan. Among the selected works are "The Bridge" by Giacomo Bendotti, "Where The Balloon Led Me" by Yasmin Walid, "The Wind in Ash" by Kong Sun, "Dog Alone" by Marta Reis Andrade, "Trading Cards" by Radhia Jang, "Majonézé" by Giulia Grandinetti, "What If They Bomb Here Tonight" by Samir Sryani, "The Experiment" by Maxim Akbarov, "My Brother, My Brother" by Saad Dnawar and Abdul Rahman Dnawar, "Ciao!" by Ivan Melgizo Martin, "Dessert Is Served" by Leila Hatabi, "A Scream on the Roof" by Leon Cordon, and "A Very Straight Neck" by Niu Sora. The international section also includes works from Cambodia, France, Saudi Arabia, and Spain.
Through this geographical and artistic diversity, MARRAKECHsFF reaffirms its commitment to short films as a genuine tool for cultural dialogue, capable of bridging different realities and sensibilities.
This year, cultural diplomacy takes on special significance with Malta being honored as the guest country at the MARRAKECHsFF 2026. This invitation aims to enhance cultural ties between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Malta, using cinema as a unique space for mutual understanding, dialogue, and cooperation.
The Maltese programming features nine short films that span fiction, animation, and documentaries, offering the Moroccan audience a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage and creative diversity of Malta.
As reported by lallafatema.ma.
