The MedFilm Festival made a special stop in Rabat this week, staging its fourth Moroccan edition on October 2 and 3 to mark 200 years of diplomatic ties between Italy and Morocco. This cultural stopover comes ahead of the festival’s 31st edition, which will take place in Rome from November 6 to 16.
For two days, Morocco’s capital played host to a packed schedule of film screenings, discussions, masterclasses, and premieres, all aimed at deepening cultural and professional ties across the Mediterranean. The event forms part of Italy’s broader Mattei Plan, an initiative designed to promote stronger connections with countries in the region through soft power and cultural diplomacy.
Organized by the Italian Embassy in Rabat and the Italian Cultural Institute, with support from local partners such as the Hiba Foundation, ISMAC, the Renaissance Cinema, and the association Methexis Onlus, the festival aims to create a lasting bridge between Italian and Moroccan cinema. At the same time, it supports up-and-coming filmmakers and encourages creative collaboration.
The festival kicked off at the Renaissance Cinema with the regional premiere of Testa o Croce?, directed by Alessio Rigo de Righi and Matteo Zoppi. After its notable appearance at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section, the film was shown for the first time in Africa and the Middle East—coinciding with its theatrical release in Italy.
This year’s edition carries added significance, celebrating two centuries of diplomatic relations. Italian Ambassador to Morocco, Pasquale Salzano, emphasized cinema’s power to foster friendship and dialogue between nations, calling it a “cultural bridge” that continues to bring people closer together.
Training and education were also a key focus. ISMAC took center stage as the main hub for professional development during the festival. Two masterclasses were led by director Edgardo Pistone, known for his Neapolitan roots, and acclaimed editor Francesco Di Stefano, a frequent collaborator of Paolo Sorrentino and winner of the Nastro d’Argento for Freaks Out. Together, they shared insights into screenwriting, directing, and editing with a group of students eager to break into the film industry.
Three feature films were screened at ISMAC, all with the filmmakers in attendance. Pistone presented Ciao Bambino, which was preceded by his short film Le Mosche. Di Stefano introduced two films he edited: Delta by Michele Vannucci and La città proibita by Gabriele Mainetti.
On October 2, the festival also recognized one of ISMAC’s emerging student filmmakers with its Young Talent Award. The winner, selected from among seven graduation short films, will be invited to Rome in November to serve on the jury for the MedFilm Festival’s international short film competition, as part of the Methexis project.
Carmela Callea, director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Rabat, highlighted the strength of the Italian-Moroccan partnership and praised the collective effort that made this edition possible. She underlined the importance of cross-cultural collaborations in shaping a shared Mediterranean identity through cinema.
All screenings and events were open to the public, subject to availability, and presented in their original language with English subtitles.
