Emerging filmmakers from across Africa and the Arab world gathered in Marrakesh this week for a series of transformative workshops.
Held during the prestigious Marrakech International Film Festival, the Atlas Workshops provided an essential platform for filmmakers to refine their projects and connect with industry professionals.
The workshops brought together talent from 13 countries, with participants at various stages of their film development.
Babatunde Apalowo, a Nigerian director working on his second feature, praised the event’s location. “Having it in Africa makes a lot of sense,” he said, emphasizing the need for local talent development.
The five-day program featured one-on-one consultations and group sessions with international mentors.
Remi Bonhomme, the project’s art director, noted the importance of such initiatives, especially for filmmakers from underrepresented regions. “This fills a critical gap,” he stated.
Since its inception in 2018, the workshops have supported 152 projects, including 60 from Morocco.
Several films that participated in past sessions have gone on to make waves at global festivals. In 2024, six films were selected for the Berlinale, including Meryam Joobeur’s “Who Do I Belong To?”.
