The updated structure will take effect during the upcoming edition, scheduled for November 28 to December 6.
The Marrakech International Film Festival has unveiled Atlas Programmes, a new banner that unifies all of its initiatives dedicated to industry professionals, alongside the launch of the Atlas Distribution Meetings. The new framework reflects the festival’s growing commitment to Moroccan, Arab and African cinema by organising its support structures for emerging filmmakers and producers in a more coherent and impactful way.
At the heart of the Atlas Programmes are the Atlas Workshops, first launched in 2018. This initiative provides artistic and professional support to Moroccan, Arab and African filmmakers and producers at both development and post-production stages, offering tailored guidance through consultations with leading international professionals.
Over the years, several complementary programmes have been added and are now grouped under the Atlas Programmes umbrella. Among them is Atlas Station, introduced in 2023, which supports 10 Moroccan directors or producers in developing their skills and expanding their projects’ international reach. Beginning in 2025, the programme will also include five Moroccan directors working on short films in post-production, helping emerging talent prepare for their first features while boosting the visibility of Moroccan short films at international festivals.
Distribution has also become a central priority for the festival. In 2023, it introduced Atlas Distribution to promote Moroccan, Arab and African films to broader audiences, along with the Atlas Distribution Awards to recognise outstanding distributors committed to this mission. This year, the initiative is being expanded with the launch of the Atlas Distribution Meetings, which will bring together 60 distribution professionals from the Arab world, Africa and Europe in Marrakech. Over four days, participants will engage with international films from the festival’s lineup as well as Arab and African works in post-production showcased in the Atlas Workshops.
Another recent addition is the Atlas Press programme, established in 2024 to nurture a culture of film criticism in Morocco. The programme offers training workshops for working journalists, guided by international experts and a parallel track for students designed to inspire careers in film criticism and bolster the vitality of local cinema.
Through these initiatives, the Marrakech International Film Festival is reinforcing its role as a platform that not only celebrates cinema but also invests in the growth, visibility, and sustainability of film industries across Morocco, the Arab world and Africa.
