The sixth edition of the Dakhla International Film Festival, organised under the High Patronage of H.M. King Mohammed VI, opened on Friday evening in Dakhla with a tribute to figures of Arab and foreign cinema. Thus, a vibrant tribute was paid to Swedish director Richard Hubert, Syrian actor Jamal Soleiman, Moroccan actress Chaïbia Al Adraoui, and Spanish director and actress Ruth Armas, during the opening ceremony which took place in the presence of the Minister of Communication, government spokesperson, Mustapha El Khalfi, the Minister of Tourism, Lahcen Haddad, and the Governor of the Oued Eddahab province, Lamine Benamer. A total of 7 films representing Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt, and Morocco are in the running for the official Arab Film competition of the Dakhla festival, initiated by the Association for Cultural and Artistic Animation of the Southern Provinces.

These are the films "Theeb" by Jordanian director Naji Abu Nowar, "Under the Sand of Babel" by Iraqi director Mohamed Al Darraji, "I Am Nojoom, Age 10 and Divorced" by Yemeni filmmaker Khadija Al-Salami, "Challat of Tunis" by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, "Ghadi" by Lebanese director Amin Dora, "Sokkar Morr" (Bitter Sugar) by Egyptian director Hani Khalifa, and "The Orchestra of the Blind" by Moroccan director Mohamed Mouftakir. The jury for the official competition of the Dakhla International Film Festival is composed of professionals from the world of arts and letters such as director Ibrahim Chakiri (Morocco), the director of information for the Al Arab channel in London, Ali Oudjana, actress Nesreen Faour from Palestine, Khalid Issa, critic and journalist from Egypt, and writer and novelist Mohamed Al Sbouî from Tunisia. In the short film category, a selection of productions by Iraqi directors dedicated to the situation of "children in wartime" will be screened during this edition. The programme for this edition is rich and varied.