The sixth edition of the Casablanca Arab Film Festival kicked off last night with the honoring of Egyptian star Ahmed Helmy and Moroccan artist Younes Mekri, in recognition of their artistic careers and contributions to the Arab cinematic scene.
The opening ceremony introduced the members of the jury for the feature-length narrative and documentary competitions, chaired by Moroccan director and producer Nabil Ayouch, and comprising Tunisian critic Hindah Hwala, Egyptian actor Basem Samra, Iraqi director Ahmed Yassine Al-Daraji, and Moroccan actress Nisrine Raddi. The jury for the short narrative and documentary films was also presented, chaired by Moroccan director and writer Hicham Al-Asri, along with Egyptian actress Sheri Adel and Jordanian director Daren Salam.
Ahmed Helmy expressed pride in receiving this award, calling it a touching moment in his artistic journey and emphasizing the importance of this festival as a platform for addressing Arab cinema issues and enhancing cultural collaboration. Helmy praised the strong presence of Moroccan cinema on the international stage and the quality of the festival’s organization.
The events will continue until June 20, featuring 31 films from 13 Arab countries. The feature-length narrative and documentary competition includes 12 films, while the short narrative and documentary competition showcases 19 films.
The festival’s program, organized by the “Extension for Culture and Development” Association in partnership with the Casablanca City Council and the Moroccan Cinematographic Center, includes training workshops in screenwriting and filmmaking led by Egyptian screenwriter Mohamed Abdelkhaleq and Moroccan artist Abdullah Shakiri, in addition to a conference on cinema and a masterclass with Ahmed Helmy and Younes Mekri, along with a panoramic screening of Moroccan and Arab films.
