Kleber Mendonça Filho: A Renowned Brazilian Director at the Heart of Marrakech
The prestigious Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM) is set to host its 23rd edition from November 20 to 28, 2026. A significant highlight of this event will be the presence of celebrated Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho, who will serve as the patron for the 9th edition of the Atlas Workshops. This initiative, designed to support Moroccan, Arab, and African cinema, was established in 2018 and has evolved into a crucial component of the festival’s professional programs.
Kleber Mendonça Filho is a prominent figure in contemporary Brazilian cinema, gaining international acclaim with films such as "The Sounds of Recife" (2012), "Aquarius" (2016), and "Bacurau" (2019), which won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. His latest film, "The Secret Agent," earned him the Best Director award at Cannes in 2025, along with two Golden Globes and four Oscar nominations in 2026. His works are characterized by a distinct narrative freedom and a commitment to independent, bold storytelling that resonates with the spirit of the Atlas Workshops.
In a statement, Mendonça expressed his enthusiasm for being invited to Marrakech, stating, "Listening to new ideas and capturing the aspirations of the new generation of filmmakers inspires my own work. And all of this in Marrakech, a fascinating city hosting such an exceptional film festival." He further reflected on last year's event, where he was asked about the possibility of shooting a film in Marrakech, noting that his role as patron of the Atlas Workshops allows him to witness the birth of new films firsthand.
The Atlas Workshops serve as an incubator for emerging talents in the film industry, bringing together filmmakers from diverse backgrounds to cultivate their skills and share their stories. In addition to the workshops, the festival features Atlas Station, which supports the development of film criticism, and Atlas Distribution Meetings, where around sixty professionals from Africa, the Arab world, and Europe gather to facilitate connections and promote film circulation. The Atlas Distribution Awards complement these initiatives by providing essential support for film distribution.
As reported by fr.allafrica.com.
