The Moroccan filmmaker Abdelilah El Jouahri’s film “The Slave” received the renowned “Cultural Dialogue between Islamic Countries” prize at the Kazan International Film Festival hosted in Tatarstan, Russia on Wednesday.
The Slave explores work relationships, hierarchies, capitalism, class struggles, dehumanization, and modern-day slavery, emphasizing societal and individual impact.
Director Abdelilah El Jouahri expressed pride in receiving the 12th international award for his film, celebrating Moroccan cinema’s growing presence in Asia.
He dedicated the award to all Moroccans and King Mohammed VI, recognizing the monarch’s support for Moroccan cinema and the arts.
El Jouahri highlighted the significance of the award for Morocco in Russia, where Moroccan cinema has less representation compared to Europe and other African countries.
During the closing ceremony, El Jouahri’s message, read by fellow Moroccan filmmaker Jaouad Babili, praised cinema as a means of global peace and harmony.
In his message, El Jouahri vowed to create more films promoting cultural cohesion, especially within Islamic countries, while celebrating Muslim unity and messages of peace.
The 20th edition of the Kazan International Film Festival featured 144 films from 40 countries, with 51 in official competition across various categories.
The festival, established in 2005, aims to foster cultural exchanges between Russian and Muslim filmmakers, highlighting human, spiritual, and moral values.
The event ran from September 6-11, under the motto, “Towards the Dialogue of Cultures through the Culture of Dialogue,” which reflects its mission to promote global cultural harmony.