This cinematic event, organised by the Young Talents for Cinema and Theatre Association with the support of the Moroccan Cinematographic Centre, serves as a recurring annual appointment to celebrate Moroccan cinematic creativity and provide an opportunity for young talents to express themselves, shine, and explore the worlds of the seventh art.
The opening ceremony of the festival, held between 19 and 21 December, was marked by a tribute to the Moroccan director Mohamed Chrif Tribak, in recognition of his creative contributions to the world of sound and image and for enriching the national cinematic landscape.
The festival's jury, chaired by the writer and director Mohamed Chrif Tribak, includes director and production manager Rachid Cheikh, actress and artist Sakina El Fadayli, and researcher in the sociology of art and visual artist Hassan Saber.
The ten films participating in the festival's official competition were also presented, which will compete for the festival's Grand Prize, the Screenplay Prize, and the Directing Prize.
In addition to the official competition film screenings, the festival programme includes a workshop on "Film Production," which seeks to enable participants to gain practical experience in various fields of cinematic creativity, and a seminar discussing the topic of "Moroccan Film Production between Quantity and Quality: Challenges and Future Prospects," as well as a book signing for "Pioneer Filmmakers Among Us" by the writer Ahmed Sijilmassi.
The president of the Young Talents for Cinema and Theatre Association, Abdellatif Zouhair, emphasised that the festival takes place within the framework of promoting the cinematic and theatrical field in the scientific capital, by working to support the capabilities of young people and providing them with training that enhances their skills, supervised by critics, artists, and actors in the field.
He added that the current edition constitutes an important milestone for promoting youth cinema, especially in terms of short films, noting that the participating films were selected based on criteria of sound, image, and message.
For his part, Mr. Tribak expressed his gratitude for this initiative that celebrated his experience and artistic career, noting that it is a gesture that will motivate him to continue working in a distinguished manner with strong spirit and energy.
