Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho, greatest recognized for “The Secret Agent”, would be the godfather – as a mentor of filmmakers – of the ninth version of the Atlas Workshops, the skilled platform of the Marrakech Movie Competition devoted to the event of Moroccan, Arab and African cinema, which is able to happen from November 22 to 26.
Mendonça Filho established himself on the worldwide scene with “Neighboring Sounds” (2012), “Aquarius” (2016) and “Bacurau on the Map” (2019), which gained the Jury Prize at Cannes. His final movie, “The Secret Agent” (2025), gained one of the best director award at Cannes earlier than profitable two Golden Globes and receiving 4 Oscar nominations this 12 months.
Mendonça Filho stated: “Listening to new concepts and understanding the aspirations of latest generations of filmmakers is a supply of inspiration for my very own work.
“And all this in Marrakech, such a captivating metropolis, which hosts such an distinctive movie pageant. Final 12 months, throughout my interview on the pageant, I used to be requested if I had already deliberate to shoot a movie on this metropolis. Being the godmother of the Ateliers de l’Atlas provides me the impression of witnessing, earlier than my eyes, the delivery of latest movies.”
Chosen from 320 initiatives in improvement and 90 movies in manufacturing or post-production, the 30 initiatives and movies on this version are divided into three classes: 14 initiatives in improvement, 11 movies in manufacturing or post-production and 5 initiatives from the Atlas Shut-Ups part, devoted to Moroccan cinema.
The 14 international locations represented are Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan, Syria and Tunisia.
The collection of initiatives in improvement consists of 12 fiction movies and two documentaries, together with six first characteristic movies.
A number of initiatives are led by filmmakers who’ve already stood out with their earlier movies: Amjad Abu Alala (“You’ll die at twenty”), Laila Abbas (“Thanks for doing enterprise with us”), Meryem Benm’Barek (“Sofia”, “Behind the palm bushes”), Sofia Alaoui (“Animalia”) and Yasmine Benkiran (“Queens”).
Of the 11 movies in manufacturing or post-production, together with 5 first characteristic movies, 4 benefited from improvement help from the Atlas Workshops: “Seasons of the Weary Form” by Samuel Ishimwe (Rwanda), chosen in 2019; “Eldorado” (Morocco) by Alaa Eddine Aljem, chosen in 2020; “Fagadaga” by Yoro Mbaye (Senegal), chosen in 2022; and “Mom Wolf” by Ismaël El Iraqi (Morocco), chosen in 2023.
The Atlas Shut-Ups program presents 5 Moroccan initiatives, together with 4 fiction movies and a documentary.
Station Atlas: A collection of producers and quick movies in post-production from Morocco
Designed to help younger Moroccan professionals, this 12 months the Atlas Station welcomes eight filmmakers chosen from 30 candidates. Throughout conferences and exchanges with worldwide professionals, these 4 ladies and 4 males will take part in an expert improvement program targeted on numerous facets of movie manufacturing.
This system additionally helps 5 Moroccan quick movies in post-production – 4 fictions and one documentary – chosen from 24 functions. The chosen manufacturing groups will profit from help tailored to the wants of their movie, notably by way of remaining modifying and distribution.
The Atlas Packages, an initiative to help Moroccan, Arab and African cinema
Created in 2018, the Atlas Workshops now fall underneath the Atlas Packages, which carry collectively the skilled initiatives of the Marrakech Movie Competition.
Atlas Press, Atlas Distribution Conferences
Atlas Press helps the event of movie criticism whereas the Atlas Distribution Conferences carry collectively round sixty professionals from Africa, the Arab world and Europe to advertise networking and the circulation of movies. The Atlas Distribution Awards complement this initiative by supporting the distribution of movies.
The Atlas Workshops, Atlas Station and Atlas Distribution Conferences happen in Marrakech from November 22 to 26, whereas Atlas Press takes place from November 23 to 27.
PROJECTS AND FILMS SELECTED FOR THE ATLAS 2026 WORKSHOPS
Tasks in improvement
“Algiers Haze – Sarra Ryma” (Algeria), first characteristic movie – fiction
“America is behind the door” – Laila Abbas (Palestine), second characteristic movie – fiction
“Cendres” – Meryem Benm’barek (Morocco), third characteristic movie – fiction
“A Lovely Land to Die” – Amjad Abu Alala (Sudan), second characteristic movie – fiction
“Chronicles of an sudden demise” – Dyaa Naim (Syria), first characteristic movie – fiction
“Eko Gongon” – Carlos Yuri Ceuninck (Cabo Verde), second characteristic movie – documentary
“The Freeway” – Farah Kassem (Lebanon), second characteristic movie – fiction
“A Lover’s Manifesto” – Alfred Tarazi (Lebanon), first characteristic movie – documentary
“Safara” – Awa Moctar Gueye (Senegal), first characteristic movie – fiction
“The Sleepers” – Sofia Alaoui (Morocco), second characteristic movie – fiction
“Songs from the Metropolis of the Lifeless” – Abdelwahab Shawky (Egypt), first characteristic movie – fiction
“Studio Kébé” – Dyana Gaye (Senegal), second characteristic movie – fiction
“Waltz of the Savages” – Yasmine Benkiran (Morocco), second characteristic movie – fiction
“The Shadow of the Zebra” – Gaël Kamilindi (Rwanda), first characteristic movie – fiction
Movies in manufacturing or post-production
“1986” – Mouayed Zabtia (Libya), first characteristic movie – fiction
“Anniversaire” – Lara Zeidan (Lebanon), first characteristic movie – fiction
“Eldorado” – No Eddine Aljem (Morocco), second characteristic movie – fiction
“Fagadaga” – Yoro Mbaye (Senegal), first characteristic movie – fiction
“Fake Bijoux” – Jessy Moussallem (Lebanon), first characteristic movie – fiction
“Hamlet From the Slums” – Ahmed Fawzi-Saleh (Egypt), second characteristic movie – fiction
“Mehal Sefari” – Abraham Gezahagne (Ethiopia), third characteristic movie – fiction
“My father killed Bourguiba” – Fatma Riahi (Tunisia), second characteristic movie – documentary
“Skilled dangers” – Bassel Ghandour (Jordan), second characteristic movie – fiction
“Seasons of the Weary Form” – Samuel Ishimwe (Rwanda), first characteristic movie – fiction
“Mom Wolf” – Ismaël El Iraqi (Morocco), second characteristic movie – fiction
Shut-ups of the Atlas
“Amar made his dream come true” – Samira El Mouzghibati (Morocco), second characteristic movie – documentary
“B512, The Man Who Forgot to Die” – Jihane El Bahhar (Morocco), third characteristic movie – fiction
“The birds of the cemetery” – Madane El Ghazouani (Morocco), second characteristic movie – fiction
“Like a sister” – Sonia Terrab (Morocco), first characteristic movie – fiction
“Medina” – Yassine Fennane (Morocco), fourth characteristic movie – fiction
Atlas Station – Chosen Moroccan professionals
Hamza Azeroual
Rita Berrada
El Abkari error
Roa Idali
Nadia Janati Idrissi
Yassine Karmoudi
Younes Lazrak
Reda Zerouali
Atlas Station – Quick movies in post-production
“Kanaf” – Salma El Belghiti (Morocco), first quick movie – fiction
“Solely the Palm Bushes Stay” – Youssef Boucetta, Josh Brainin (Morocco), second quick movie – fiction
“Takzdouft: Ghosts of the Mountains” – Omar Hazmiri (Morocco), second quick movie – documentary
“Saida” – Amine Zeriouh (Morocco), third quick movie – fiction
“The place the solar by no means units” – Yassine Ouahrani (Morocco), first quick movie – fiction