Unspooling from 30 November-4 December as an integral part of the Marrakech International Film Festival, the eighth annual Atlas Workshops will once again aim to uplift a new generation of Moroccan, Arab and African filmmakers throughout the entire creative process. Romanian director Cristian Mungiu, known for his 2007 Palme d’Or winner 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days [+lire aussi :
critique
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interview : Cristian Mungiu
interview : Oleg Mutu
fiche film], will serve as patron for the Atlas Workshops this year. This will allow him to work closely with the selected filmmakers and steer the workshops under his creative vision.

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This year’s workshops feature a total of 28 projects. There are 12 projects in development from nine countries in the workshops’ regions of interest, ten films in the shooting or post-production phase, and five first fiction feature projects in development from Morocco for the Atlas Close-ups selection. One Moroccan film seeking a festival premiere will also be presented in the Atlas Film Showcase section.

Some of the highlights from this year’s project selection – and all European co-productions – include the newest film by Palestinian director Scandar Copti, who won Marrakech’s top prize for Happy Holidays [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Scandar Copti
fiche film]. Burkinabe director Boubacar Sangaré (A Golden Life [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film]) brings an adaptation of Les Dieux délinquants, while Jordanian helmer Amjad Al Rasheed (Inshallah a Boy [+lire aussi :
critique
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fiche film]) will present his most recent project. A variety of themes is once again reflected in the selection, with topics including the dialectic between tradition and modernity, as well as emancipation, reconciliation, resilience and resistance.

This year marks the inauguration of the Atlas Distribution Meetings, an enhancement of the Atlas Distribution Awards launched in 2023 and part of the festival’s overarching Atlas Programmes banner. Bringing together 60 distribution professionals from Africa, the Arab world and Europe over four days, the meetings seek to promote exchange, stimulate regional cooperation and enhance the visibility of cinema from the region.

The Atlas Station professional programme, a springboard for young Moroccan producers, is brought to life once again this year, this time with an expansion. Atlas Station will host a new session dedicated to Moroccan directors working on short films in production or post-production, who will receive personalised support. The programme will bring together seven Moroccan professionals and four Moroccan short films in post-production.

Here is the full list of projects and films selected for the 2025 Atlas Workshops:

Projects in Development

Hold Me (If You Want) – Mounia Akl
Production: Gaïjin (France), Abbout Productions (Lebanon), Heretic (Greece), Amrion Production (Estonia)

Under Her Eye – Amjad Al Rasheed
Production: Georges Films (France) (in co-production with Jordan)

Chentian – Suha Arraf
Production: Odeh Films (Palestine), Mayana Films (Germany), Lena Zimmerhackel (Germany)

The Marches – Vatche Boulghourjian
Production: Escaala (France), Abbout Productions (Lebanon)

Under Green Skies – Jad Chahine
Production: April Productions (Egypt), Red Star Films (Egypt) (in co-production with Saudi Arabia)

A Childhood – Scandar Copti
Production: Fresco Films (Palestine), Tessalit Productions (France), Senorita Films (France), Toolbox Film (Denmark)

Chapa 100 – Ique Langa
Production: Better Audiovisual (Mozambique), Tubafilms (South Africa)
International sales: Luminalia (Italy)

Vanda – Kamy Lara
Production: Wonder Maria Filmes (Portugal), Uika Filmes (Angola)

Akal – Basma Rkioui
Production: Kasbah Films (Morocco), Massala Production (France)

Les Dieux Délinquants – Boubacar Sangaré
Production: BES Ciné (Burkina Faso), Les Films de la Caravane (France)

Last Cow – Amil Shivji
Production: Kijiweni Productions (Tanzania), Gobez Media (Canada)

Siméon Idriss – Zineb Wakrim
Production: Les Films du Mirage (France) (in co-production with Morocco)

Films in Production or in Post-production

Vagabonds – Amartei Armar
Production: A.K.A Entertainment (Ghana), La Luna Productions (France)

Don’t Let the Sun Go Up on Me – Asmae El Moudir
Production: Insight Films (Morocco), Haut et Court Doc (Morocco), Ström Pictures (Denmark)
International sales: Autlook Filmsales (Austria)

Orient Adagio (Qitar al-Sharq al-Bati’) – Maha Haj
Production: Fresco Films (Palestine), Blue Train Films (France), Okta Film (Italy)

Safe Exit – Mohammed Hammad
Production: Pareidolia Production (Egypt), Nomadis Image (Tunisia) (in co-production with Libya/Qatar)

The Station – Sara Ishaq
Production: Screen Project (Jordan), Ta Films (Jordan), Georges Film (France), One Two Films (Germany), KeplerFilm (Netherlands), Barents Film (Norway), The Imaginarium Films (Jordan) (in co-production with Qatar)
International sales: Paradise City Sales (France)

Wolves – Rami Kodeih
Production: RT Features (Brazil) (in co-production with Lebanon)

La Más Dulce – Laïla Marrakchi
Production: Lumen (France), Fasten Seat Belt (Spain), Mont Fleuri Production (Morocco), Mirage Films (Belgium)
International sales: Lucky Number (France)

Goma Enough Is Enough (Goma trop c’est trop) – Elisé Sawasawa
Production: JBA Production (France), Molakisi Films (DRC)

Grey Glow (Lueur Grise) – Michèle Tyan
Production: Orjouane Productions (Lebanon), Djinn House Productions (Lebanon) (in co-production with Qatar)

Trip to Jerusalem – Michel Zarazir, Gaby Zarazir
Production: madame le tapis (Lebanon)

Atlas Close-ups (Moroccan projects in development)

Into the Blue Night (Vers la nuit bleue) – Halima Elkhatabi
Production: Parce Que Films (Canada) (in co-production with Morocco)

Remontada – Reda Lahmouid
Production: Nel Films (Morocco)

The Tanjawi (Le Tangérois) – Zahoua Raji, Ayoub Layoussifi
Production: Ciné-Scène International (Morocco)

Today, I Am 25 Years Old – Shaden Safieddine Tazi
Production: 1991 Productions (UK) (in co-production with Morocco)

Earth and Ashes (Terre et cendres) – Leyna Tahiri
Production: Les Films du Nouveau Monde (France), Ali n’ Production (Morocco)

Atlas Film Showcase

Until Dawn (Jusqu’à l’aube) – Mohamed Zineddaine
Production: Ouarzazate Films (Morocco), Janaprod (Morocco)

Atlas Station – Short Films in Post-production

Deserted Streets (Rues Désertes) – Batoul Benazzou (Morocco)
The Bride of the Rain (Taslit n’ounzar) – Driss Ouaamar (Morocco)
Mesk Ellil – Adnane Rami (Morocco)
Barzakh (Barzakh : Le monde intermédiaire) – Kenza Tazi (Morocco)

Atlas Station – Selected Moroccan professionals

Lamia Bengelloun
Kenza Berrada Amor
Ines Lehaire
Linda Qibaa
Zainab Rabbaa
Fadila Taha
Oumayma Zekri Ajarrai