Influences
Casablanca Arab Film Festival: 31 Films in Competition at the 6th Edition
According to the organizers, the jury for the feature film competition will be chaired by Moroccan director and producer Nabil Ayouch.
The 6th edition of the Casablanca Arab Film Festival, which will take place from June 13 to 20, will feature 31 films competing, representing 13 Arab countries, the event organizers announced on Wednesday.
A total of 12 films will participate in the feature film competition, including both fiction and documentaries, while the short film competition, also comprising fiction and documentaries, will feature 19 films, they specified during a press conference held in Casablanca.
The organizers also highlighted the main components of the program for this artistic and cultural event, emphasizing that the film selection criteria were based on their quality and their premiere presentation in Morocco.
They recalled that the Casablanca Arab Film Festival, organized by the Imtidad Association for Culture and Development in partnership with the Casablanca Municipality Council and the Moroccan Cinematographic Center (CCM), has, over its previous editions, succeeded in attracting an elite group of stars and professionals from the Arab cinema world. They noted that this year’s edition promises to be outstanding, with a rich and high-quality film program.
On this occasion, the festival president, Fatima Nouali Azar, stated that this 6th edition aims, like the previous ones, to establish itself as a major artistic and cultural event, adding that this year’s program stands out due to the selection of high-level Arab films.
All the films participating in this edition enjoy great renown throughout the Arab world. It is worth noting the strong presence of Arab filmmakers, both among the juries and the honored personalities.
Ms. Nouali also indicated that the festival program includes a screenplay writing workshop led by Egyptian screenwriter Mohamed Abdel Khalek, and a film directing workshop conducted by Moroccan artist Abdellah Chakiri. Additionally, the festival will host a cinema conference, masterclasses with artists Ahmed Helmy and Younès Megri, as well as a showcase of Moroccan and Arab films.
Meanwhile, the General Manager of Casablanca Events & Animation, Mohamed Jouahri, affirmed in a similar statement that the support given to this festival stems from the belief in its ability to enhance Casablanca’s influence both in the Arab world and internationally.
He added that this year’s edition will offer a rich and diverse program, with over 30 films scheduled, highlighting the growing interest in this cultural and artistic event.
It should be noted that this new edition of the festival will pay tribute to two great figures of Arab cinema: Egyptian actor Ahmed Helmy, considered one of the emblematic faces of the 7th art thanks to his acclaimed performances in theater, television, and film; and Moroccan artist Younès Megri, one of the brightest names in the Moroccan cinematic landscape in recent years.
According to the organizers, the feature film competition jury will be chaired by Moroccan director and producer Nabil Ayouch. It will include Tunisian critic Henda Haouala, Egyptian actor Bassem Samra, Iraqi director Ahmed Yassin Al-Daraji, and Moroccan actress Nisrin Erradi.
As for the short film jury, it will be chaired by Moroccan director and writer Hicham Lasri and will be composed of Egyptian actress Shery Adel and Jordanian director Darin Sallam.
