Moroccan cinema will be the guest of honor at the 25th edition of the African Film Festival in Khouribga.
The festival is set to transform the Moroccan city into a beacon of visual culture on the continent, welcoming one of Africa’s oldest film events from June 21 to 28, 2025. During this milestone edition, Khouribga will open its doors to cinema enthusiasts under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and with the supervision of the International Festival of African Cinema.
This event is more than just a festival; it serves as a living memory of African cinema and a platform for dialogue and interaction between filmmakers and their audiences. The festival aims to enable African cinema to express its issues, expand its presence, and build bridges of cooperation between its countries.
This year’s edition holds a special significance, as it shines a spotlight on Mauritanian cinema, a unique artistic experience that has struggled for decades with limited support and production but has managed to assert its voice in the film scene. Notable figures, such as director Abderrahmane Sissako, have played a crucial role in re-establishing its prominence through repeated participation in the Khouribga Festival and honors received there.
Since its inception in the 1960s, Mauritanian cinema has navigated a challenging journey, shaped by the will of creators and civil society in a country known as “the land of a million poets.” Today, visuals in this cinema transform into a poetic narrative that tells a story of history and identity while raising questions of awareness and change.
This year’s festival will be an opportunity to delve into the records of Mauritanian cinema, reflect on its challenges, honor its creators, and explore its pathways in a continent that is experiencing a cultural and artistic renaissance, leveraging cinema as a tool for expression, education, and self-documentation.
