Rabat Welcomes the 2nd International Archaeological and Heritage Film Festival
From June 9 to June 13, 2026, Rabat will play host to the much-anticipated second edition of the International Archaeological and Heritage Film Festival, organized by the Centre for Studies and Research in Archaeological and Anthropological Heritage of the Middle Atlas (CERPAAM). This year’s festival promises an exciting lineup, featuring a total of 22 film screenings, of which 16 will be competing for awards. The festival aims to foster a deeper understanding of the connections among humanity, cultures, and territories through cinema.
A Celebration of Civilizations through Film
The festival is designed to be a forum for exploring the intricate relationships between human societies and their cultural and geographical contexts. It is organized in partnership with the Amiens Archaeological Film Festival and receives support from the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication. By using the medium of film, the festival seeks to present accessible insights into the major milestones in human evolution, inviting audiences to consider how they influence contemporary life.
Screenings will take place at the auditorium of the National Institute of Music and Choreographic Arts and the Renaissance Cinema. A diverse selection of films will be showcased, spanning various historical periods from prehistory to medieval times, tackling themes such as human migration, cultural transformation, and the interactions between societies and their environments. The festival will kick off with the screening of "America: The New Story of the First Humans," a documentary that examines the arrival of the first humans in America approximately 32,000 years ago, produced by Bellota Films, founded by Hind Saîh.
In addition to the film screenings, the festival will also host three public conferences led by international experts, including archaeologists, architects, paleontologists, and researchers from various countries. Among the topics to be discussed is a presentation on recent archaeological discoveries in Morocco, aimed at providing scientific insights related to the films and fostering dialogue between specialists and the public. The presence of filmmakers and researchers will further facilitate discussions on the challenges and opportunities in the audiovisual production related to heritage and archaeology.
This festival aligns with the ongoing efforts by CERPAAM to promote Moroccan archaeological heritage. Since 2019, the center has conducted prospecting and excavation campaigns in the Middle Atlas region while developing cultural mediation initiatives. The inaugural edition of the festival, held in April 2025, laid the groundwork for these efforts, and the upcoming edition aims to expand the programming while reinforcing the scientific and cultural dimensions of the event.
As reported by quid.ma.
