Khribga: The Community Cinema Festival Opens Its Ninth Edition Celebrating the Seventh Art and Moroccan Heritage
On the evening of Thursday, November 13, 2025, the ninth edition of the Community Cinema Festival, in honor of artist Abdullah Farakous, commenced. Organized by the Chourouk Association for Culture and Development to celebrate the anniversary of the glorious Green March and Independence Day, the festival will span three days at the Technical Agricultural Institute, in partnership with the Berr Mesouwi Municipality, and supported by the Office Chérifien des Phosphates – Act for Community – Khouribga, the Moroccan Cinematic Center, and the Regional Directorate of Culture.
The opening ceremony featured the inauguration of an art exhibition signed by artists Abdel Jabbar Belchehb and Abdel Majid Attia, showcasing works inspired by nature and traditional crafts. The exhibition celebrated national heritage and embodied the symbolism of horsemanship and its traditional arts, captivating attendees with its aesthetic touches that highlight the richness of Moroccan identity.
Both the association’s president, Mustafa Soufi, and the regional director of culture, Hassani Al-Houfi, delivered welcoming speeches praising the value of the festival and its diverse program. They emphasized its role in bringing cinematic culture closer to rural areas, encouraging young talents, and enhancing the presence of art as a bridge for cultural development.
The poet and media personality Yasmin Al-Hajj elegantly hosted the opening segments, which included national musical interludes by artist Abdel Ilah Al-Khatabi. The event also featured a moment of acknowledgment and gratitude honoring artist Abdullah Farakous, actress Bushra Ahari, and director of the International African Cinema Festival, Azeddine Kireiran, in recognition of their contributions to the development of Moroccan cinema and service to the seventh art.
A video showcasing the highlights of the previous edition was presented during the evening, along with glimpses of films participating in the official competition, before announcing the jury, which includes Bushra Ahari, film critic and journalist Ahmed Siglamsi, and actor Abdel Razaq Walid Amir.
The festival’s activities will continue with masterclasses featuring guests and screenings of competition films in the evenings, while Saturday will be dedicated to a panel discussion on the expressions of comedy in Moroccan cinema, accompanied by the signing of new publications. The festival will conclude with an awards ceremony, marking an edition that strengthens the position of cinema as a space for interaction and creativity in the region.
