The Marrakech International Film Festival is taking a bold new step in its ongoing support of Moroccan, Arab, and African cinema. All of its professional initiatives are now unified under one umbrella: ATLAS PROGRAMS. This consolidated label aims to give greater visibility to the Festival Foundation’s support mechanisms, while reaffirming its commitment to filmmakers and producers across the region.
At the core of this structure are the Atlas Workshops, launched in 2018, which continue to play a central role. Designed to guide film projects in development or post-production, the program offers emerging talents personalized mentorship and access to a global network of industry professionals. It’s become a crucial launchpad for new voices in regional cinema.
Over time, other initiatives have grown from this foundation. Introduced in 2023, Atlas Station offers ten Moroccan professionals a training pathway aimed at helping them connect with international markets. Starting this year, the program will expand to include five Moroccan directors working on short films in post-production. The goal: to nurture future feature filmmakers and boost the visibility of Moroccan shorts on the global festival circuit.
Distribution has also emerged as a key focus area. Launched in 2023, the Atlas Distribution Awards annually recognize distributors who are dedicated to promoting films from the Arab world and Africa. In 2025, this effort will be reinforced with the launch of the Atlas Distribution Meetings. Over four days, sixty professionals from Africa, the Arab world, and Europe will gather in Marrakech to explore a curated lineup of international films from the festival, alongside post-production projects developed through the Atlas Workshops.
Another key addition to the ATLAS PROGRAMS suite is Atlas Press, created in 2024 to strengthen film criticism in the region. The program offers two tracks: one designed for working Moroccan journalists to sharpen their critical skills, and another aimed at students, with the goal of cultivating a new generation of critics who can engage with the fast-evolving film industry.
Through ATLAS PROGRAMS, the Marrakech International Film Festival now offers a fully integrated framework that spans the entire creative and professional process—from screenwriting to critical reception. It’s a move that not only solidifies the festival’s role as a vital platform for regional cinema, but also deepens its long-term impact on the industry.
