Tangier hosts the 25th edition of the National Film Festival, celebrating Moroccan cinema and its creators.
The festivities for the 25th edition of the National Film Festival began last night in Tangier, set against a celebratory atmosphere that brought together prominent figures from the Moroccan film industry, including directors, producers, actors, and critics. This event aims to reinforce the position of national cinema as a driving force for creativity and cultural and economic development.
The opening ceremony, held at the Palace of Arts, was graced by various cinematic and cultural personalities, alongside representatives from production and distribution companies and professional organizations. This gave the festival an institutional character that melds art with supportive cultural policies.
In a speech during the event, Abderrazak Boujdaïni, Secretary General of the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, affirmed that Moroccan cinema has evolved from being merely an artistic expression to becoming a productive sector contributing to wealth creation and job opportunities. He noted that last year, cinema revenues reached 127 million dirhams, attracting over two million viewers, which reflects a strong resurgence of audiences in national cinemas.
The government official explained that Morocco has solidified its position as a global destination for foreign film productions, with international investments in the sector amounting to 1.5 billion dirhams in 2024, compared to just one billion dirhams the previous year. He emphasized that this leap would not have been possible without the state’s supportive policy and the backing of the Moroccan Film Center.
Boujdaïni highlighted that the ministry is working on developing cinema infrastructure through the construction and renovation of theaters, especially in mid-sized and small cities, ensuring citizens’ right to access visual culture. He also revealed plans to modernize the legal framework of the film industry and provide sustained financial support to enhance local production and keep pace with digital transformations.
This edition is characterized by a rich programming schedule that includes screenings of the latest Moroccan films across three genres: feature-length, short, and documentary films, along with roundtable discussions and professional meetings bringing together Moroccan and foreign creators to deliberate on the future of the film industry in the country.
Among the new features of this edition is the organization of an exhibition and market dedicated to video games, an unprecedented initiative aimed at linking the realms of cinema with digital content creation and video games, fostering new avenues for cooperation between the two creative industries.
In the official competition for feature-length films, 15 cinematic works are vying for attention, featuring both seasoned directors and emerging talents, including Azlarab Alaoui, Anwar Al-Mu’tasim, Sanae Akroud, and Dawood Oulad Said, along with Karima Kanouni and Hicham Hajji. Additionally, several promising names are participating in the parallel competitions with short and documentary films addressing social, cultural, and humanitarian issues from various perspectives.
Amid the celebration of the seventh art and anticipation of the future of the Moroccan film industry, Tangier, the “Bride of the North,” continues to play its role as a platform honoring creativity and hosting the stories of Moroccan cinema that unfold on its screens each year.
