The 14th edition of the International Cinema and Immigration Festival opened on November 14, 2026, at the Mohammed VI Theatre in Oujda, Morocco. The festival, organized by the Solidarity for Development and Immigration Association, will run until November 17. The event was attended by artists, directors, producers, and film enthusiasts. The festival's theme this year is "Cinema, a Bridge of Coexistence and Message of Tolerance."
Abdellatif Drifi, the festival's director and president of the organizing association, emphasized that the festival aims to strengthen the ties between Moroccans living abroad and their country of origin. He noted that the festival's program is designed to support Moroccan cinema and promote values of rapprochement and dialogue between cultures. The festival also features a scientific colloquium for Moroccan and migrant students, led by professors and researchers.
The festival's artistic director, Younes Lahri, highlighted that this edition features a rich program that addresses universal human issues. He noted that the festival's screenings and workshops reflect the artistic maturity and progress made by the festival. Lahri also emphasized that the participation of invited filmmakers adds value to promoting the cultural and tourist attractions of the region.
The opening ceremony included a tribute to three Moroccan cinema figures: actresses Bouchra Ahrich, Jihane Khalil, and Khouloud Bettioui. They were recognized for their artistic contributions to the national cinematic and theatrical landscape. Bouchra Ahrich expressed her pride in receiving this distinction, praising the festival's cultural and artistic role in strengthening ties with Moroccans living abroad.
The festival features films from Morocco, France, the Netherlands, the UK, Egypt, Côte d'Ivoire, Georgia, Germany, Tunisia, and Sweden. Ten fiction films have been selected for the two official competitions. The long film competition has four works competing for five prizes, while the short film competition has six films vying for three awards.
The festival's jury is chaired by French director and screenwriter Olivier Gross. The jury also includes Moroccan director Karim Chafi, Egyptian screenwriter and actor Eslam Mohamed Hafez Marzouk, French director and screenwriter Joël Pellegrini, and Tunisian sound and image engineer Latifa Ben Aïcha. Gross expressed his pride in leading the jury, highlighting the festival's opportunity to discover high-level films addressing immigration.
The festival also includes a roundtable discussion on "Dynamics of Co-Production between Europe and Morocco" and a colloquium at the Oujda Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences on "Moroccan Cinema and the Challenges of Transborder Partnerships." The event is organized in partnership with several institutions, including the Moroccan Cinematographic Center and the Oujda University.
Key points
- The festival aims to promote Moroccan cinema and values of coexistence and dialogue between cultures.
- The event features a rich program of films, workshops, and discussions addressing immigration and cultural exchange.
- The festival pays tribute to Moroccan cinema figures and promotes the country's cultural and tourist attractions.
