The Marrakech Short Film Festival wrapped up its sixth edition on Wednesday evening, following a series of outdoor screenings and engaging discussions that brought together short film creators from around the globe. This year's festival showcased nearly 400 films from over 90 countries, reinforcing Marrakech's position as a burgeoning hub for short films and a meeting point for emerging talents to connect with a broader global cinematic landscape.
The Turkish actress Tuba Büyüküstün presided over the international jury during this edition, marking her first visit to Marrakech after two previous trips to Casablanca. She expressed her excitement about this long-anticipated trip and emphasized how participating in the festival allowed her to engage with cinema from a different perspective, stepping away from her usual role as an actress to watch and evaluate short films as part of the jury.
In discussing the significance of short films, Tuba highlighted that "short films play a crucial role in the industry," noting that their creators often lack sufficient budgets to produce films. Thus, she emphasized the importance of taking these creative risks, stating that watching these bold and experimental films was a "delight" for her.
Ramia Beladel, the founder and director of the festival, affirmed that Tuba's participation aligned with the festival's goal of attracting prominent names to shed light on short films. She noted that thanks to Tuba and her fellow jury members, the festival reached a demographic that has now become familiar with short films through their involvement.
AMANAR: From Concept to Screen
The AMANAR platform, a new professional initiative of the festival, concluded its activities after two days during which 12 international professionals mentored five Moroccan projects within the Development Lab. This segment culminated in the "Pitch Your Short Film" sessions, where three projects were awarded. Zahra Barada's "Fragments of an Ordinary Day" won the ZINEBI Industry Award, while Maria Doubliani's "Unsettled" earned a post-production award from Atlantis Studios Marrakech. Additionally, Saad Benider's "Avant Première" received the AMANAR Best Pitch Award.
The name "AMANAR" translates to "the guiding star" in Amazigh, reflecting the festival's commitment to assist Moroccan talents in developing their films and navigating the production and promotion phases. Ramia Beladel articulated that "the AMANAR program represents our dedication to short filmmakers, supporting them in the creation, production, and promotion of their films post-screening." This ambition extends beyond the industry; according to Beladel, the festival aims to bring short films closer to the audiences in Marrakech, not just to residents but to those who visit the city. She recalls the historical image of Marrakech as a stop for caravans, emphasizing the festival's desire to play a similar role in the world of short films, making Marrakech a destination with a Moroccan, African, and also global identity, attracting filmmakers from around the world.
International Competition: A Broad Map of Short Cinema
The international competition featured films from countries such as Italy, Iraq, China, Portugal, Australia, Albania, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Spain, Britain, South Korea, and Japan, resulting in the distribution of several awards to outstanding entries. Italian filmmaker Giacomo Bendotti received the Belarj Prize for Best Director for his film "The Bridge," while the Nakhil Prize for Best Film went to "My Brother, My Brother" by Egyptian duo Abdelrahman and Saad Danyour. Kazakhstan's Maxim Akbarov was given a special mention for his film "The Experiment," and Lebanese director Samir Seriani won the Jury's Choice Award for "What If They Bomb Us Tonight."
Alongside Tuba, the international jury included British director Charlotte Regan and Lebanese screenwriter and director Daniella Stephan, who shared with us that "short films are akin to poetry," and what struck her most during her festival experience was discovering films from a vast number of countries. She expressed her pride in representing Lebanon at a Moroccan festival, alongside Alice Khrouby, the cinema programming director at the Cannes Film Market.
Moroccan cinema made its presence felt through the national competition, which provided a platform for directors and films that reflect the diversity of new experiences in short filmmaking. The festival not only served as a competitive arena but also offered space to discover emerging talents and showcase their work to audiences and professionals from Morocco and abroad, as Moroccan short films continue to seek their unique voice and place within the broader cinematic scene.
Heading the national jury was Moroccan actor, director, and screenwriter Rashid El Ouali, a prominent figure in Moroccan cinema and television for over four decades, alongside actress Jalila Talmasi, a graduate of the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts and Cultural Animation (ISADAC), and actor-director Hicham Ibrahim.
On a national level, the Belarj Prize for Best Director was awarded to Sanaâ El Alaoui for her film "Aicha," while Sundia Tajeddine received the Bahja Prize for Best Actress for her role in "Les Liens Invisibles" directed by Ayman Ben Slimane. Yassine Eghnifar's "Two Ways" won the Nakhil Prize for Best Film, and the National Jury's Choice Award went to "Phone Breaker" by Hamza Atifi.
With Malta as the guest of honor for this sixth edition, the festival furthered its goal of cultural diplomacy, utilizing cinema as a space for dialogue and rapprochement between Morocco and Malta. The two countries have maintained diplomatic relations since 1974, and this relationship entered a new phase with the opening of Malta's consulate in Casablanca in 2022, broadening the scope for cultural cooperation.
This selection also carries a notable cultural dimension; Maltese language roots trace back to a dialect of Arabic from North Africa, influenced by Sicilian and Italian, making it the only Semitic language officially recognized in the European Union. The Maltese program presented nine short films in Maltese and English, encompassing drama, animation, and documentary genres that explore themes of human relationships, family, migration, domestic violence, alongside Maltese legends, customs, heritage, and the island's natural and urban environment. Among the films featured were "My Dearest Mother," "The Chain," "Bark," and "Unur, Fama u Glorja," in addition to animated films like "Filfla," "Somewhere," "Mr. Teddy is Angry," and "Karamellu tar-Raħal t'Isfel."
The program also included the film "Cookie Box" by Polish director Adam Zorawicki, addressing issues of domestic violence, migration, and underrepresented voices in media.
The sixth edition of the Marrakech Short Film Festival thus closes its chapter after days filled with screenings, meetings, and workshops that gathered short film creators from Morocco and around the world. The journey of the films from this edition does not end in Marrakech; the festival is preparing to present a selection of its outstanding works in a special screening at the Arab World Institute in Paris from November 13 to 15, marking a new milestone in highlighting the growing visibility of Moroccan and Arab short films on the international stage.
As reported by annahar.com.
