Rabat – Four Moroccan films will stand before international audiences at the second Baghdad International Film Festival, which runs from September 15 to 21.
The selection features “Seul l’amour”, a feature film by Kamal Kamal, “Miroir à vendre”, a short fiction by Hicham Amal, and “Équipe”, a documentary by Zakaria Ahraar.
Another Moroccan presence comes through “Coulisses”, a joint Moroccan-Tunisian production directed by Khalil Benkirane and Afaf Ben Mahmoud.
This year’s festival drew 423 submissions, from which 67 films were chosen. Fifteen compete as fiction features, 24 as documentaries, and the rest as animated works.
Iraq enters the competition with five films, Tunisia with two, while Egypt and Syria present one each. The program also honors Tunisia as guest country, with screenings that include “Le Silence des palais” by Mafida Tlatli, a film remembered for its role in shaping Arab cinema.
By bringing together filmmakers from across the region, the Baghdad International Film Festival seeks to strengthen cinematic culture in Iraq and the Arab world, giving audiences a chance to engage directly with stories from diverse perspectives.
Morocco rolls out the red carpet
Morocco has increasingly positioned itself as a dynamic player in the regional and international film landscape. Over the past decade, Moroccan productions have stepped beyond national borders, reaching audiences across Arab, African, and European festivals.
Recognition of Moroccan cinema continues to expand. Directors and producers have found a space on international platforms, allowing local stories to gain wider resonance.
The diversity of themes, from intimate portraits of everyday life to bold explorations of social issues, has helped Moroccan films carve out a distinctive voice in the Arab world and beyond.
Morocco made a remarkable impression at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, held from August 27 to September 6. Moroccan filmmaker Hind Bensair earned international recognition with her documentary “La Cour des Grands”, which won both the Red Sea Award and the Amiens Festival Award in the “Final Cut in Venice” section.
Adding to the country’s success, the Moroccan feature “Calle Malaga”, directed by Maryam Touzani, received the Audience Award in the Spotlight category of the festival’s official selection.
This year alone, Morocco stands at the forefront of two major cinematic gatherings: the Marrakech Short Film Festival (MSFF) and the Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM).
The two events carry weight in the industry. MSFF gives space to emerging voices and experimental formats, while FIFM, one of the most established festivals in the region, draws acclaimed directors, actors, and producers from around the world. Together, they confirm Morocco’s growing reputation as a hub for cinematic dialogue.
Cinema gains fresh ground
Morocco’s renewed focus on cinema extends beyond festivals and international recognition.
The country recently put into effect Law No. 18-23 on the film industry, which also reorganizes the Moroccan Cinematographic Center (CCM).
Promulgated in December 2024 and published shortly after in the Official Bulletin, the legislation sets out to make Morocco more attractive to both local and foreign investment in the film sector.
It also introduces a framework meant to generate new employment opportunities, ensure transparency in public service management, and foster fair competition within the film market.
Another central goal of the law is to raise the profile of Moroccan cinema at home and abroad by laying the foundations for a distinctive economic model dedicated to the industry.
To move this vision forward, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid announced a second round of consultations with professional organizations and film industry representatives, designed to prepare the regulatory texts that will bring the law fully into operation.
