Continuation of Film Screenings at the Khouribga International African Film Festival
Film screenings resumed yesterday as part of the long and short film competition at the Khouribga International African Film Festival, with the presentation of the feature film "Autumn Story" by Egyptian director Karim Makram.
This work is included in the official competition for feature films, which features 15 films representing 12 African countries, competing for six festival awards.
"Autumn Story," which is being screened for the first time in Morocco, marks Karim Makram’s first lengthy narrative film following a series of documentary and short films. Its production took seven years of continuous writing, production, and editing, reflecting the director’s desire to present an independent artistic work that conveys his unique vision.
The film tells the story of a famous writer suffering from AIDS who lives in isolation and faces a creative crisis, before his life intersects with other characters who bear their own wounds, creating deep human relationships among them.
In a statement to the Maghreb Arab Press, Karim Makram expressed his immense joy at premiering the film at the Khouribga Festival, emphasizing that his choice of this festival was rooted in his belief in its status as one of the most prestigious film festivals on the African continent, which adds a special character to the screening.
The director noted that the film’s experience carries human and contemplative dimensions, expressing hope that it will inspire independent filmmakers, especially young directors venturing into their first experiences in feature filmmaking.
Similarly, the film’s star, Youssef Othman, praised the festival’s cultural and artistic atmosphere, considering it an important platform for exchanging cinematic experiences and visions among various countries in the continent. He explained that the film addresses the issue of loneliness and isolation that a person may experience even amidst others, through a cinematic treatment that strives to convey genuine human emotions with simplicity and depth.
On the same day, the Moroccan feature film "Casablanca-Dakar" by director Ahmed Boulan was screened, which tells the story of an architect stranded between Dakar and Casablanca during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding himself compelled to embark on an illegal journey symbolizing cultural closeness in Africa.
The Togolese film "Mikoko/Rise" by director Angela Akuey Boro was also shown, which narrates the story of a market vendor who discovers that her husband, the mayor, plans to demolish the market and replace it with a shopping center.
In the short film competition, three works were shown: "The Battle of Oblivion" by Abdelaziz Bass (a Senegalese-Moroccan production), and "Djaka" from Ivory Coast, directed by Lionel Koku and Stella Osamu.
The Khouribga International African Film Festival is held under the patronage of King Mohammed VI and, during this edition, hosts 350 filmmakers from 45 countries, celebrating African cinematic creativity and its transformations.
This current session is taking place under the slogan "From the Narrators’ Attraction to the Rigidity of Algorithms: The Intersections of African Cinema," aiming to open a discussion on the impact of artificial intelligence on film professions and creative imagination in Africa.
