Marrakech's Atlas Workshops Unveils 2025 Selection, Cristian Mungiu Named Patron

The Marrakech International Film Festival has announced the 28 projects and films selected for the 8th edition of its Atlas Workshops, scheduled to run from November 30 to December 4, 2025. Esteemed Romanian director Cristian Mungiu, renowned for his Palme d'Or-winning film "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days," will serve as the patron of this year's event.

Mungiu's Vision for Cross-Cultural Cinema

Mungiu expressed his enthusiasm for the role, stating: "I am very happy to get back to Marrakech, a vibrant festival that uses the power of cinema to promote and unite people from different corners of the world. I gladly accept the position of patron of the Atlas Workshops for 2025, hoping that from this encounter, both the filmmakers I am going to meet and I myself will have a lot to learn." He emphasized cinema's potential as "a great tool for investigating reality and getting to know the other despite all stereotypes," advocating for its use in fostering unity over division.

A Showcase of Emerging and Established Talent

The Atlas Workshops serve as a crucial platform for filmmakers from across Africa and the Arab world, offering support and visibility to projects in various stages of development. This year's selection encompasses a diverse range of narratives and perspectives, reflecting the rich cinematic landscape of the region.

Workshop Highlights

Twelve projects in development (10 fiction and two documentaries, including five first features) representing nine countries: Angola, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Mozambique, Palestine, and Tanzania. Ten films in production or post-production (nine fiction and one documentary, including five debut features) from seven countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, and Yemen. Five projects from Morocco in the Atlas Close-Ups section, all of which are first feature-length fiction films in development. One Moroccan film nearing completion and seeking a festival premiere in the Atlas Film Showcase section.

Expert Perspective: The Significance of Regional Film Initiatives

Dr. Fatima Al-Sulaiti, a film scholar specializing in Middle Eastern and North African cinema at the University of Southern California, notes the increasing importance of regional film initiatives like the Atlas Workshops. "These workshops play a vital role in nurturing emerging talent and providing a crucial bridge between filmmakers from the region and the international film community," she explains. "They offer not only financial and logistical support but also invaluable networking opportunities and mentorship, which are often scarce for filmmakers from underrepresented regions."

Notable Projects and Filmmakers

The 2025 Atlas Workshops will feature new work by established and emerging filmmakers, including:

Scandar Copti and Maha Haj, Palestinian directors known for their poignant narratives. Boubacar Sangaré, a Burkinabe director adapting Augustin Sondé Coulibaly's novel "Les Dieux délinquants." Amjad Al Rasheed, a Jordanian director whose previous project participated in Critics' Week at Cannes. Amil Shivji, a Tanzanian director whose work has been presented at the Toronto International Film Festival. Moroccan filmmakers Basma Rkioui, Zineb Wakrim, Laïla Marrakchi, and Asmae El Moudir, all of whom have garnered international recognition for their films.

The Atlas Workshops in a Global Context

The Atlas Workshops are part of a growing trend of film initiatives aimed at fostering diversity and inclusion in the global film industry. Historically, Hollywood and European cinema have dominated the international scene, often marginalizing voices and perspectives from other regions. However, initiatives like the Atlas Workshops, the Doha Film Institute Grants Program, and the Africa Movie Academy Awards are working to redress this imbalance by providing support and recognition to filmmakers from underrepresented communities.

According to industry analyst David Bloom, these initiatives are not just about promoting diversity but also about tapping into new markets and audiences. "The global film industry is increasingly recognizing the importance of catering to diverse audiences and telling stories that resonate with different cultural backgrounds," Bloom states. "Initiatives like the Atlas Workshops are essential for identifying and nurturing the talent that will drive the future of global cinema."

Full List of Selected Projects and Films

The complete list of projects and films selected for the 2025 Atlas Workshops is as follows:

Projects in Development

"Akal," Basma Rkioui (Morocco), first feature documentary "Chapa 100," Ique Langa (Mozambique), second fiction feature "Chentian," Suha Arraf (Palestine), second fiction feature "A Childhood," Scandar Copti (Palestine), third feature documentary "Les Dieux Délinquants," Boubacar Sangaré (Burkina Faso), first fiction feature "Hold Me (If You Want)," Mounia Akl (Lebanon), second fiction feature "Last Cow," Amil Shivji (Tanzania), second fiction feature "The Marches," Vatche Boulghourjian (Lebanon), second fiction feature "Siméon Idriss," Zineb Wakrim (Morocco), first fiction feature "Under Green Skies," Jad Chahine (Egypt), first fiction feature "Under Her Eye," Amjad Al Rasheed (Jordan), second fiction feature "Vanda," Kamy Lara (Angola), first fiction feature

Films Shooting or in Post-Production

"Don’t Let the Sun Go Up on Me," Asmae El Moudir (Morocco), second feature documentary "Goma Enough Is Enough" (Goma Trop C’est Trop), Elisè Sawasawa (Democratic Republic of the Congo), first feature documentary "Grey Glow" (Lueur Grise), Michèle Tyan (Lebanon), first fiction feature "La Más Dulce," Laïla Marrakchi (Morocco), third fiction feature "Orient Adagio" (Qitar Al-Sharq Al-Bati’), Maha Haj (Palestine), third fiction feature "Safe Exit," Mohammed Hammad (Egypt), second fiction feature "The Station," Sara Ishaq (Yemen), first fiction feature "Trip to Jerusalem," Michel Zarazir and Gaby Zarazir (Lebanon), first fiction feature "Vagabonds," Amartei Armar (Ghana), first fiction feature "Wolves," Rami Kodeih (Lebanon), first fiction feature

Atlas Close-Ups

"Earth and Ashes" (Terre Et Cendres), Leyna Tahiri (Morocco), first fiction feature "Into the Blue Night" (Vers La Nuit Bleue), Halima Elkhatabi (Morocco), first fiction feature "Remontada," Reda Lahmouid (Morocco), first fiction feature "The Tanjawi" (Le Tangérois), Zahoua Raji & Ayoub Layoussifi (Morocco), first fiction feature "Today, I Am 25 Years Old," Shaden Safieddine Tazi (Morocco), first fiction feature

Atlas Film Showcase

"Until Dawn" (Jusqu’à L’aube), Mohamed Zineddaine (Morocco), fiction feature

The 8th edition of the Atlas Workshops promises to be a significant event, showcasing the vibrancy and potential of filmmaking from Africa and the Arab world.