Ouzoud Hosts the 4th Edition of the International Mountain Film Festival

Thursday 27 August 2026 - 14:14

The town of Ouzoud, located in the Azilal province, is set to become a major gathering place for cinema and culture enthusiasts from September 2 to 6. The 4th edition of the International Mountain Film Festival will bring together film professionals, researchers, artists, and the general public around a program that includes screenings, intellectual meetings, and training workshops.

The event will kick off with a speech from its president, Bahija Simou, before the official competition begins, under the watchful eye of an international jury. This jury will be chaired by Moroccan critic and thinker Mohamed Noureddine Affaya and will include Afghan actress and journalist Marina Golbahari, Egyptian actor Ahmed Wafik, and Kazakh director Rustem Abdrashev.

Tributes to Cinema Figures

This edition will place significant importance on recognizing artistic journeys. Several personalities will be honored, including Moroccan director Daoud Aoulad Syad, during the screening of his film Al Marja Zarka (The Blue Lagoon).

The festival will also pay tribute to Gabonese director and actor Jean-Claude M'Paka and Moroccan actor Saad Mouaffak, whose journey will be celebrated alongside the screening of the film L'Esclave (The Slave). Nepalese director Min Bahadur Bham will receive a special tribute during the closing ceremony.

Mountains and Identity at the Heart of Discussions

Beyond the screenings, the International Mountain Film Festival of Ouzoud aims to open a space for reflection on the role of cinema in society and the development of territories.

Researcher Hassan Tariq will lead a discussion dedicated to the theme "Cinema and National Identity," accompanied by a book signing of his work Moroccan Nationalism: The Mutations of the Nation and Identity.

Another conference will explore the place of mountains in Moroccan storytelling, in partnership with the Narration Laboratory of the Faculty of Letters of Ben M'sik. This meeting will notably feature the presentation of the book The Sheikh and the Mountain by Chouaib Halifi.

The program also includes a debate dedicated to the contribution of the film industry to an integrated territorial development strategy, highlighting the links between cultural creation, attractiveness, and the revitalization of territories.

Public Screenings Open to All

Alongside the official competition, several films will be offered as part of the "Panorama" program. The public will be able to discover Le Héros (The Hero), Jalaleddine, and L'Amour seul (Only Love) during screenings organized in the public square.

The festival also focuses on skill transmission through two workshops. The first will be dedicated to acting in front of the camera, led by Wiam Chkkar. The second will cover the principles of photography under the supervision of Ziad Chajai.

Local artistic and folkloric performances will complement this program. The event will conclude with a visit to the Dar Al Ma'arifa museum, followed by the announcement of the awards for the feature film competition.

The various sequences of the festival will be animated by journalist Bouchra Mazih and artist Sanaa Fadel.