Editor

 

The Marrakech Short Film Festival (MARRAKECHsFF) is back for its third edition, showcasing Moroccan talent in the realm of short films through an international selection in iconic venues in Marrakech.

As the first open-air cinema festival founded by women in Morocco, this event continues to bridge the gap between the short film industry and the city of Marrakech, while highlighting Moroccan and international talents through an engaging competition program.

MARRAKECHsFF will take place in Marrakech from September 22 to 29, 2023. Screenings will be held in prestigious locations such as the Bahia Palace, the Cyber Park, Dar Cherifa, Villa Majorelle, The Source Hotel, and other exciting venues. The third edition of the festival will welcome Poland as the guest country of honor in partnership with the Polish Embassy, featuring a selection of films curated by the prestigious Munk Studio, which has been operating within the Polish Filmmakers Association since 2008, focusing exclusively on producing debut directorial films. The studio's objective is to discover and support talented young filmmakers in creating innovative art-house cinema. The Polish selection will include more than 10 films, including "The Dress" by director Tadeusz Łysiak (Oscar nominee).

The festival will also feature an international selection of films from the United States, Cyprus, Greece, Palestine, Ivory Coast, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, the Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia.

The 2023 selection will include award-winning films such as "En Route" by Munir Abbar, which won the Grand Prize at the Maghreb Film Festival in Oujda, "Seminal Animals" by Karim Souissi, which received the 1st Jury Prize and Audience Award for the short film "Hand Maid" at the Encounters Festival in Bristol, UK, and "Nothing Holier than a Dolphin" by Margara Isabella, winner of the AUDIENCE AWARD at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival.

The festival's lineup consists of thirteen films, including seven in competition, with the participation of renowned directors and actors such as Fahd Benchamsi, Abdellatif Chaouqi, Abdelghani Sannak, Munir Abbar, Karim Souissi, Gabriel Navarro, and more. The festival jury will be chaired by director Nour Eddine Lakhmari, accompanied by producer Rachida Saadi and actress Nisrine Erradi. The festival will award several prizes, including the NAKHIL Prize (Best Film), BELARJ Prize (Best Director), and Bahja Prize (Best Actor). A special jury prize will also be awarded to a film from the international selection.

This year, the Marrakech Short Film Festival is working on new programs, including the "LOW BUDGET BUDGET" program dedicated to supporting Moroccan filmmakers who have participated in previous editions of the festival. This program aims to support and develop the Moroccan short film industry by providing a platform for project creation and development. In partnership with Chaoui Production and under the patronage of Lamia Chraibi, the LOW BUDGET FILM program will present two films by two young Moroccan directors: Jihane Joypaul and Karim Tajouaout.