Marrakech Celebrates World Cinema in Its 22nd Edition with 82 Films from 31 Countries
The Marrakech International Film Festival has announced the list of films participating in its 22nd edition, scheduled to take place from November 28 to December 6, 2025. The lineup features a rich program of 82 films from 31 countries.
The films are divided into several sections, including the official competition, gala screenings, “Horizons,” “The Eleventh Continent,” a panorama of Moroccan cinema, screenings for emerging audiences and families, as well as tribute films. This edition is marked by the premiere of 8 films, 9 works supported by Atlas Workshops, and 14 films representing their countries in the Oscars.
The official competition focuses on emerging talents, featuring 14 feature films that are the first or second works of their directors, competing for the festival’s Golden Star under a jury chaired by South Korean director Bong Joon-ho. The films address contemporary issues through intimate or historical stories, including “Behind the Date Palms” by Maryam Benm’Barek, “The First Light” by James G. Robinson, “Before a Bright Day” by Shi Han Tsao, “My Father’s Shadow” by Akinola Davis Jr., and “The Laundromat” by Zamo Mkhanazi.
Other films explore themes of friendship, adolescence, and political transformations, such as “Amoeba” by Sio Tan and “Ish” by Imran Berita, while three works focusing on women’s resistance include “Sky Without Land” by Areej Al-Sahiri, “Shattered Voices” by Ondrej Provaznik, and “Aisha Can’t Fly” by Mourad Mustafa. The documentaries “Memory” and “Papa and Gaddafi” reshape personal stories linked to the histories of Chechnya and Libya, with the competition section concluding with “Circle of the Straight” by Oscar Hudson and “Forastero” by Lucia Alinar Iglesias.
The gala screenings feature nine films from prominent global productions, including “Dead Man’s Line” by Gus Van Sant, “Rue Malacca” by Maryam Touzani, along with the world premieres of “The Lady” by Marwan Hamed and “Sofia” by Dhafer L’Abidine, as well as a screening of “Palestine 36” by Annemarie Jacir.
The “Horizons” section includes 19 films that bring together well-known names like Park Chan-wook, Claire Denis, Jim Jarmusch, Jafar Panahi, and Richard Linklater, alongside new voices such as Ali Asgari, Simon Mesa Soto, and Melissa Judith, as well as notable Arab films like “What’s Left of You” by Sherien Dayaibs and “The Kingdom of the Reed” by Hassan Hadi.
The “Eleventh Continent” section presents 15 feature-length and documentary films for liberated cinematic experiences, showcasing restored versions of classics in Arab cinema, such as “Mirage” by Ahmed Bouanani. The festival also dedicates a panorama of Moroccan cinema to showcase 7 narrative and documentary films, including two world premieres, along with 15 additional Moroccan films across various sections.
The “Emerging Audiences and Family” section targets children and teenagers with 13 screenings aimed at fostering a love for cinema. Selected screenings will take place at the Conference Palace, Colisée Cinema, and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, honoring Jodie Foster, Guillermo del Toro, and screenwriters Rawia and Hussein Fahmy.
