Atlas next frame festival brings student animation to Casablanca

Thursday 21 May 2026 - 13:31

By: Dakir Madiha

Atlas next frame festival brings student animation to Casablanca

The Atlas Next Frame Festival will take place in Casablanca from 4 to 6 June 2026 at the Institut Français du Maroc. The event focuses on student animation, visual arts, and emerging forms of image creation. It marks the launch of a new international platform designed to connect young creators with professionals in the global animation industry.

The initiative is led by the Moroccan association Rasm’Art in partnership with cultural and educational stakeholders based in Casablanca. Rasm’Art has developed training programs in animation and visual storytelling through its Flow Motion School initiative. The organization positions the festival as an extension of its mission to support young talent and integrate them into creative industries.

The festival will bring together three main groups. Emerging students entering animation fields. Moroccan artists developing international projects. International professionals involved in training and production at a global level. The structure aims to create direct exchange between education, production, and industry standards in animation.

The 2026 edition is built around the theme Crafting New Visions. The program highlights animation as a process of experimentation rather than only finished work. Organizers focus on new storytelling approaches, hybrid techniques, and evolving digital tools used in visual production. The festival encourages both completed films and works in progress.

Competition entries are open to students from schools and universities across all animation techniques. This includes 2D animation, 3D production, stop motion, motion design, mixed media, and experimental formats. Submissions are free and are completed online through the official festival platform.

Three main awards will be presented. The Grand Prize L’Horizon will recognize the best student film across all categories. The Jury Prize Le Regard will be awarded to a Moroccan production. The Fabrique Prize will support a work in progress project with technical and post production resources to advance its development.

Beyond the competition, the festival will host panel discussions, workshops, and training sessions. Topics include future image production methods, the role of archives in digital storytelling, the interaction between manual creation and digital tools, and the development of animation scenes in the Global South. Networking sessions will connect students, studios, and professionals.

The event will occupy multiple spaces within the Institut Français du Maroc in Casablanca, including theaters, galleries, gardens, workshop rooms, and digital exhibition areas. The program is designed to combine screenings, talks, hands on workshops, and professional meetings over three days.

International participation includes Gobelins Paris, a leading institution in animation training known for producing globally recognized talent. Its involvement adds an international dimension to the festival and strengthens its position as a platform for cross border collaboration in animation education and production.