Meknès: Around Ten Films in Official Competition at the 15th Ciné‑Université

Around ten films are taking part in the official competition of the 15th edition of Ciné‑Université, which opened on Wednesday evening in Meknès under the theme “Cinema for All.”

The opening ceremony of this event—initiated by the National Federation of Film Clubs of Morocco in partnership with the Grand Écran Association of Meknès—was marked by the presentation of the films in competition as well as the members of the juries.

The selected works are L’Addition by Hamza El Maazi and Hamza Dakkoun, Trauma by Jihan Kamal, Épine dans la gorge (A Thorn in the Throat) by Abdelkabir Nichan, Les Fantômes d’hier (Yesterday’s Ghosts) by Adil Bengrina, Aïcha by Sana Alaoui, Ors Al Fajr (The Wedding of the Dawn) by Alae Eddine Kharraz, Another Day from the Past by Thami Boukhris, La vie des autres (The Lives of Others) by Mahmoud Aït Lhaj, À ma mère (To My Mother) by Hayat Lahnine, and Henna by Azeddine Louardi.

Speaking on the occasion, the President of the National Federation of Film Clubs of Morocco, Abdelkhalek Belarabi, stated that the festival forms part of the federation’s cultural and educational project, which seeks to promote a cinematic culture grounded in critical analysis and methodological guidance, while developing skills in screenwriting, directing, and image analysis.

Named after filmmaker Abdelhay Laraki, this edition pays tribute to the remarkable artistic journey of this leading figure of Moroccan cinema and to his contribution to the development of a cinematic language centred on human and social concerns, he added.

For his part, the President of the Grand Écran Association of Meknès, Abdelali Khliti, highlighted the importance of this “one‑of‑a‑kind” cinematic event, noting that it serves simultaneously as a cultural and artistic meeting point bringing together professionals of the seventh art and cinephiles from diverse backgrounds.

The organisation of this festival in Meknès affirms the position of the Ismaili capital—drawing on its rich civilisational and historical heritage—on the national artistic and cultural scene, he said, underscoring the contribution of artists from the city to national cultural vitality, particularly filmmaker Abdelhay Laraki.

This event also reinforces, alongside other artistic gatherings, Meknès’s positioning as a major cinematic crossroads and a space for reflection and practice around the seventh art, he continued, noting that it also serves as a platform for dialogue and training for young people.

In this context, Khliti reported the creation of a platform dedicated to training young people in documentary filmmaking and film directing, which has generated strong interest with 140 participants registered.

The opening ceremony also featured tributes to internationally renowned actor Mohamed Miftah and filmmaker Abdelhay Laraki, in recognition of their distinguished artistic careers and their contribution to the visibility and influence of Moroccan cinema.

The first day included the screening of Abdelhay Laraki’s film Les 400 et un coups (The 401 Blows), which tells the story of an adolescent prevented by his teacher from seeing François Truffaut’s The 400 Blows (1959). The young boy then decides to live out his own adventures, revisiting adolescence—a period that a filmmaker can never fully erase from their work.

This film is among the four productions by Laraki scheduled for this edition. The director will also lead a masterclass devoted to his professional experience.

The jury for the official competition, chaired by director Saâd Chraïbi, includes producer Caroline Locardi, as well as Mounir Ouskoum and Leïla Rahmouni. The parallel jury is composed of Idriss Yaâkoubi, Malika Hammoucha, and Hicham Aïdi.

The cultural programme of this edition—organised with the support of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication (Department of Culture), the Moroccan Cinematographic Centre, and the Municipality of Meknès—also includes the presentation and signing of new publications, notably a Practical Guide to the Short Film by Abdelilah Zirate, as well as the novel The Hole by writer Idriss Roukh.

Training workshops and discussion forums will also be held in order to renew debate around the role of film clubs in the dissemination of cinematic culture and education in visual literacy.