The 24th National Film Festival (FNF) opened Friday at the Palace of Arts and Culture in Tangier, running until October 26, with prominent figures from the film, culture, and media sectors in attendance.
The opening ceremony featured a special homage to actors Safia Ziani and Mohamed Choubi, recognizing their remarkable careers in Moroccan cinema.
Abdelaziz El Boujdaini, Secretary General of the Communication Department and Interim Director of the Moroccan Cinematographic Centre (CCM) said that this year’s event celebrates national cinema, showcases the latest Moroccan film productions, and highlights emerging talents in the industry.
El Boujdaini stated that the festival provides an invaluable opportunity for constructive dialogue on Moroccan cinema’s current status and prospects, fostering the growth of a new generation of filmmakers.
The festival is also designed to strengthen connections between audiences, particularly young people, and cinema, and to preserve as well as showcase Morocco’s cinematic heritage.
El Boujdaini stated that Moroccan cinema is distinguished by its diversity, inclusivity, and capacity to transcend linguistic and geographical boundaries.
The inaugural event introduced the jury members to the festival’s four main competitions: fiction feature films, short fiction and documentaries, non-fiction, and the film school category, with a total of 22 awards to be distributed to the winners.
The program includes roundtable discussions on topics such as “Writing scripts for Children’s Films “, “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Cinema: The Rise of a Key Player”, “Financing the Film Industry” and “Animated Cinema in Morocco: Ways to Recognition”.
Festival participants will also have an opportunity for constructive dialogue with professionals on current industry issues and trends. This year’s FNF serves as an invaluable platform for the Moroccan and international film community.