Tetouan International Festival Honors Nabil Ayouch, Aida Folch, and Eyad Nassar in Its Thirtieth Edition
The Tetouan International Mediterranean Film Festival continues to enhance its status as a platform celebrating the pioneers of cinema, announcing that its thirtieth edition will honor three prominent figures whose bold contributions have reshaped the cinematic landscape in the Mediterranean region.
The honorees include Moroccan director Nabil Ayouch, Spanish actress Aida Folch, and Jordanian-Egyptian artist Eyad Nassar, highlighting the festival’s openness to diverse experiences unified by a humanistic vision and creative dimension.
The festival’s administration confirmed that this selection reflects its commitment to honoring the journeys that have contributed to the evolution of cinematic language and enriched cultural discussions on both shores of the Mediterranean.
The festival shines a light on Nabil Ayouch’s career, which successfully brought Moroccan societal issues to international platforms through works such as “Maktoub,” “Ali Zaoua,” “Ya Khail Allah,” and “The Beautiful One,” leading up to “Ali Sawtak” and “Fi Hob Tooda,” which represented Morocco in the Oscars and César awards.
From Spain, Aida Folch, who began her career with director Fernando Trueba at the age of fourteen in “Magical Shanghai,” has continued to deliver remarkable performances in films like “Mondays in the Sun,” “Salvador,” and “The Artist and His Model,” in addition to her appearances in notable television productions.
Eyad Nassar has established himself as one of the foremost Arab actors, showcasing his ability to navigate various characters, from his portrayal of Hassan al-Banna in the series “Al-Jama’a” to recently winning the Best Actor award for his role in “Sila Rahim” at the 2025 Arab Drama Critics Awards.
Through this edition, the Tetouan Festival reaffirms that the event will be a space for the convergence of Mediterranean cultures through cinema, celebrating significant creative experiences and supporting emerging talents by providing opportunities for meetings, dialogues, and a diverse lineup of films.
This edition features ten feature films, both narrative and documentary, from various Mediterranean countries competing for several awards, including the Grand Prize of the City of Tetouan, the Mohamed Rkab Award, the Azeddine Medour Award for Best First Work, as well as accolades for Best Actress and Best Actor.
Italian director Leonardo Di Costanzo will chair the jury for feature films, alongside Moroccan director Asmae El Moudir, French actor and theater director Serge Barbier, Portuguese producer Isabel Machado, and Egyptian director and screenwriter Amir Ramsis.
The Mustapha Moussaoui Critique Committee will also grant its award to works distinguished by their aesthetic treatment and critical approach, comprising Moroccan media figure and critic Fatima El Afriqi, French critic Cédric Lépine, and Italian journalist Francesco Pontigia.
