Wazan Hosts Afro-Asian Cinema: International Festival Celebrates Cultural Diversity and Enhances Artistic Dialogue
Wazan is gearing up to host the second edition of the Wazan International Spring Film Festival focused on Afro-Asian cinema, taking place from April 9 to 12. This cultural event aims to present a rich program that reflects the diverse cinematic experiences in Africa and Asia.
The festival management announced the official jury for the feature film competition, which includes prominent artistic figures such as writer and screenwriter Othman Ashkara, director David Pierre Vella, and actress Bushra Ahres, creating a blend of experience and artistic diversity.
The official competition features five feature films representing different cinematic visions: “Al-Zarqa” by Moroccan director Dawood Owlad Said, “Radiya” by Khawla Asbab Benaamir from Morocco, “Waongo” by Burkinabé director Augusta Palenfo, “Wandering Earth” by Chinese director Frant Guo, and “Amalan” by Ivorian director O. Asy.
In the “Panorama Screenings” segment, the festival offers a selection of films outside the main competition, including “À QUAND L’AFRIQUE” by director David-Pierre Vella, previously screened at the Berlin International Film Festival, and “The City of Miracles” by director Iram Ghafran, which presents a visual experience merging realism with contemplative aesthetics.
Chinese cinema will serve as the guest of honor for this edition, aiming to foster cultural and artistic exchange and highlight its contributions to the global film scene.
The festival’s program also includes parallel cultural and intellectual activities, such as a masterclass on documentary film techniques led by David Pierre Vella, and a symposium discussing the transformations in visual expression within the Afro-Asian context, along with a reading session of “Different Cinema” by director and writer Mohamed Sherif Tarbiq.
The festival will see the participation of Moroccan and international cinematic figures, enhancing opportunities for dialogue and experience exchange among stakeholders in the field, reinforcing Wazan’s status as a cultural space open to the world.
In an educational dimension, the organizers plan to launch a cinema caravan aimed at children, touring several areas in the Wazan province to bring the seventh art closer to younger generations and promote cinematic culture.
This event aims to establish a cultural and academic space celebrating Afro-Asian cinema, strengthening bridges of dialogue between cultures through programming that reflects the richness and diversity of contemporary cinematic creativity.
