The city of Saïdia is hosting from August 03 to 06, the 2nd edition of its Film Festival, placed under the banner "All for Moroccan creativity and a cinematic spectacle in the blue pearl", at the initiative of the Al Amal Association for coexistence and development.

This artistic event aims to promote cinematic culture in the Oriental region, in particular in Saïdia and Berkane, to serve as a bridge between Moroccans from here and elsewhere and to invest in cinema as an effective communication tool in promoting the values of tolerance and coexistence between peoples, indicates a statement from the organisers.

The Festival has chosen, this year, to pay tribute to national cinema, with the screening of new films in an open space for the benefit of the public of Saïdia, in addition to the organisation of meetings to make known the Moroccan directors and actors participating in this edition.

In total, thirteen films (7 short films and 6 feature films) will be in the running in the official competition to win the prizes of this 2nd edition, namely: the Grand Prix of "the blue pearl" for the feature film, the "Orange" prize for the short film, in addition to the prize for best director, best screenplay and best actor and actress.

These productions will be judged by a jury chaired by the writer and researcher Saïd Benkrad, and composed of a number of intellectuals, writers and journalists.

This cultural and artistic event, organised with the support in particular of the Moroccan Cinematographic Centre (CCM), the Regional Council, the Saïdia Development Company (SDS) and the Provincial Council of Berkane, provides in its programme for conferences and meetings around various cultural and social issues, in addition to a posthumous tribute to the Moroccan director Mohamed Ismaïl.