The International Festival of African Cinema in Khouribga (FICAK) continues the celebrations of its 25th edition (June 21–28) with a heartfelt tribute to Mauritanian and Senegalese cinema, the two guest countries of honor this year.
This nearly 50-year-old cinematic event aspires to promote African film production, support emerging talent, and increase the visibility of continental cinema on the international stage.
As the guest of honor, Mauritanian cinema was celebrated through the figure of director Abderrahmane Sissako, one of the few filmmakers from sub-Saharan Africa to enjoy international acclaim.
The first African filmmaker to receive the César Award for Best Director for Timbuktu, Sissako is the author of major works that stand out for their depth and universal appeal.
Mauritanian cinema has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, noted Festival Director Azzedine Gourirran, emphasizing that this choice reflects a distinctive feature of this artistic event, which holds a prominent place in the African cinematic landscape.
Speaking on the occasion, Gourirran stated that African cinema has taken significant steps forward and made major progress in various creative fields, particularly in filmmaking, which is now asserting itself as a creative force on the international scene.
For his part, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Ahmed Ould Bahia, stressed that the tribute to Mauritanian cinema during this edition strengthens bilateral cooperation and opens up new opportunities for partnership and the exchange of experience in the field of cinema.
The Mauritanian diplomat also expressed the desire to benefit from Morocco’s cinematic experience, adding that FICAK has built up successful experiences over the decades—not only in Morocco but across the African continent—since its first edition in 1977.
During the ceremony, Senegal was also honored, represented by director Mansour Sora Wade, praised for his mastery of "the art of combining images and sound in service of the message,” according to tributes delivered in his honor.
A jury member at several prestigious international festivals, Sora Wade was recognized for his entire career, marked by numerous awards from renowned festivals around the world.
In total, 15 feature films from 12 African countries are competing in the official competition for one of the six prestigious awards of this edition, held under the theme: "From the Griot to the Algorithm, Cinema Evolves.” In parallel, the official short film competition features 15 films from 13 African countries.
Present in Khouribga as president of the feature film jury, Rwandan filmmaker Joel Karekezi praised Morocco's ongoing commitment to African cinema.
"This is a festival that truly honors African cinema,” he said in a statement to MAP, recalling that several of his own films had already been screened in Khouribga as part of FICAK.
For him, the Khouribga Festival represents an essential meeting place for professionals of the seventh art, thanks to the richness of its programming, the quality of its discussions, and the engagement of a loyal and curious audience.
The ceremony was highlighted by artistic performances that took the audience on a journey to the heart of the Kingdom's African roots, featuring stage presentations that blended percussionists from West Africa with the Moroccan group Abidat Rma.
MAP