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Inside the Marrakech Short Film Festival: A Conversation with Founder Ramia Beladel
Rabat – Every year, the Marrakech Short Film Festival (MARRAKECHsFF) brings together filmmakers and film lovers to celebrate the art of short films. Since its creation five years ago, this festival has become an important platform for international cinema and for supporting young Moroccan filmmakers.
Morocco World News spoke with Ramia Beladel, the founder and director of the festival, to learn about this year's edition, taking place between September 26 and October 1. It promises to be even more exciting, with new programs and a strong focus on nurturing local talent.
'This year, we introduced two major new programs,' Beladel said. The first is the International Competition. Each year, the festival receives hundreds of film submissions from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe.
The quality was exceptionally high this year, Beladel says, making it very hard for the selection committee to choose the best films. The festival wants to bring fresh, unique, and authentic stories that Moroccan audiences have never seen before, Beladel said.
The second new program is the Low Budget Film Program, which is returning this year with a short film by Moroccan director Ayoub Boudadi. Produced in partnership with NADACOM, this program supports emerging Moroccan filmmakers by giving them a chance to showcase their work.
'Some of the most renowned and influential platforms in the global short film industry will be joining us this year, making this edition a truly international meeting point,' Beladel said.
Nurturing Morocco's next generation of filmmakers
When asked why supporting Moroccan filmmakers is so important, Beladel gave an insightful response. 'I would actually reframe the question: Why are there so few platforms supporting young filmmakers?'
From the very beginning, the festival's priority has been to create a safe space, what they call the MsFF Family, where young Moroccan artists can grow, learn, and connect. Only after building this strong local foundation did the festival add the International Competition to introduce Moroccan audiences to new global voices.
'Our mission is not only to support emerging Moroccan talents, but also to create a safe space where they can grow, connect, and evolve,' she added.
The Marrakech Short Film Festival was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when cinemas were closed and local audiences were craving the joy of watching films together. Among its missions was to revive Marrakech's strong tradition of cinema.
Choosing the international films and guest countries is no easy task. The festival team is committed to finding unique voices from places that Moroccan audiences may not be familiar with, she indicates.
'Sometimes we find them through our open call for submissions; other times, we actively seek them out at major festivals such as Berlinale, Clermont-Ferrand, Dresden Short Film Festival, La Mostra, Cannes, and others,' Beladel shared. This effort makes the Marrakech Short Film Festival a true meeting point for diverse cinematic cultures from around the world.
Beladel has a clear vision for where she wants the festival to be in five years. 'Closer to its mission, and even closer to its family,' she says.
A meeting point for African and global cinema
For her, the festival is more than just a yearly event. The team works year-round, developing programs, presenting the festival abroad, and building networks to help grow the short film industry in Morocco and the wider region.
One of the MARRAKECHsFF's important ongoing projects is raising awareness about Morocco's abandoned historic cinemas. In partnership with SCIM, the festival hopes to restore at least one old cinema and dedicate it entirely to short films within five years.
Creating a permanent home for short films in Morocco is a dream Beladel is working hard to achieve.
Held in iconic outdoor venues like Palais Badii, Cyber Park, and The Source Hotel, the week-long event features daily two-hour screenings of short films chosen by a diverse jury, followed by discussions with the audience.
Beyond screenings, the festival also aims to highlight the heritage of Marrakech's abandoned cinema halls, support emerging filmmakers, and eventually grow into a larger platform for African and global cinema.
It is one of the rare open-air film festivals in the region created by a woman. It aims to offer an intimate, high-quality cultural experience for both audiences and the film industry. Tags: filmMarrakech short film festivalRamia beladelShort film
