Jeff Nichols to mentor filmmakers at Marrakech International‌ Film Festival

Renowned director takes on new role

Jeff Nichols, the U.S. director known for his impactful ‍film The Bikeriders, has‍ been announced as ⁣the official patron for the upcoming Marrakech ⁢International Film Festival’s⁢ Atlas Workshops. This event, characterized ‍by its support for burgeoning talents in the Middle East ‌and North Africa, will ⁢see Nichols mentoring selected projects.

A ‍platform fostering new ⁣voices

Launched in 2018, the Atlas⁢ Workshops are a vital industry initiative to nurture the next generation of Moroccan, Arab, and African filmmakers. The workshops provide an invaluable environment for ‌the exchange of ideas between global professionals and regional talents, promoting cross-cultural collaboration and innovation.

Diverse ⁤projects on ‍display

This year’s Marrakech International Film Festival will feature‌ a diverse array of projects. The selection includes 17 works in development and 10‌ films⁣ in production or post-production, spanning 13 countries. These projects were chosen from over 300 ‍applications, reflecting the incredible interest and talent across the African continent and the Arab world.

Highlights from the Atlas Workshops

Standout projects at the workshops include:

• El Sett by Egyptian director Marwan Hamed,​ which⁤ features Mona Zaki as Umm Kulthum, the iconic Arab‍ singer who revolutionized music dissemination through early 20th-century ‌technology.

• Alicante, the first fiction film by Lina‌ Soualem. Her 2023 documentary Bye‍ Bye Tiberias explored familial ‌displacement resulting from the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

• Dar Marjana by U.S.-based​ Moroccan filmmaker Lamia Lazrak, who turns the‌ lens on her family life in Marrakech.

Jeff Nichols expressed his excitement, stating, “I’m thrilled to visit this incredible festival for the first time. Accepting the position as⁢ Patron ​to this year’s Atlas Workshops is‌ an honor, and I consider myself lucky to have‍ the opportunity to share in the journey these filmmakers are on.”

Projects in development

The‌ Atlas Workshops will showcase ⁢several innovative projects still in development:

• Alicante, Lina Soualem (Algeria) – first fiction film
• The Last Beast of Atlas, Walid Messanaou (Morocco) – first‌ film
• Flowers of the Dead (Flôr di Finado), Nuno Miranda (Cabo Verde) – first film
• Ici Repose, Moly Kane (Senegal) – first⁢ film
• Lucky Girl (Chanceuse), Linda Lô (Senegal) – first film
• The Orange Grove, Murad Abu Eisheh (Jordan) – first film
• Princesse Téné, Fabien Dao (Burkina Faso) – first film
• Pure Madness (Pure Folie), ⁤Inès Arsi (Tunisia) – Doc – first film
• Samir, The Accidental Spy (Samir, Espion Malgré Lui), Charlotte Rabate (Syria) – first film
• The Shelter (Le Refuge), Talal Selhami (Morocco)
• The Source‌ (Al Madda), Mouloud Ouyahia (Algeria)⁣ – first film
• Your Turn, 2023, Cynthia Sawma (Lebanon) – ⁤first film

Moroccan projects in development

Special focus will be on Moroccan projects in development, such as:

• And Still I Rise (À Balles Perdues , Mon ⁢Âme Gagné), Djanis BOUZYANI ‌(Morocco) – Doc –​ first film
• Dar Marjana, Lamia Lazrak (Morocco)‍ – Doc – first film
• Fatwa, Mohamed El Badaoui (Morocco)
• The Field (Le Champ), Mohamed Bouhari (Morocco) – first film
• The Nours (Les Frères Nour), Yassine Iguenfer (Morocco) –​ first ‌film

Films in production or post-production

Noteworthy films⁢ in production or post-production include:

• Aisha‍ Can’t Fly Away,⁢ Morad Mostafa (Egypt) – first film
• All That’s Left of You, Cherien Dabis (Palestine)
• Bardi,⁢ Tala Hadid (Morocco)
• Behind The Palm Trees, Meryem Benm’Barek (Morocco)
• Chronicles From a Siege Era, Abdallah Al-Khatib (Palestine, Syria)
• In The Shadows of Good Fortune, Babatunde Apalowo (Nigeria)
• It’s a Sad And Beautiful World, Cyril Aris (Lebanon) – first fiction⁣ film
• Laundry (Uhlanjujujo), Zamo Mkhwanazi (South Africa) – first film
• Once Upon ‍a Time in Gaza, Tarzan and Arab Nasser (Palestine)

Atlas film showcase

Films in the final stages of editing and seeking festival premieres include:

• El Sett, Marwan Hamed (Egypt)

The 21st edition of ⁤the Marrakech International Film Festival ⁢is set to run from⁤ Nov. 29 to Dec. 7 in the⁣ historic ‌Moroccan city. This event⁢ promises to be ⁢a celebration of emerging ‍talent⁢ and a beacon⁣ for the future of regional cinema.

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