Besides Inès Lehaire, several young filmmakers were distinguished during this evening, notably Salma Kortobi who won the audience award for her documentary, Omar Zaafaoui who received a special mention for his short film, Soufiane Salamate who was awarded for the best fiction short film, and Soukaina Saadi who was awarded the prize for the best documentary.

In a statement to the MAP, Inès Lehaire said she was "delighted to have won this prize", emphasizing that this award means that her film "was able to touch people and that they appreciated it".

Her film "Abdellah", named after her grandfather, tells a family story rooted in a village near Benguerir, deprived of access to water, she explained, adding that "in parallel, it tells the story of the migration of my grandfather, who finally brought us back to Morocco.

"It is in his village that he is buried, and it is, finally, a blessing that reunited my whole family", she said.

Chaired by director Meryem Benm’Barek, the jury of this 7th edition praised the richness and diversity of the films presented.

"We discovered absolutely sumptuous films, carrying a strong Moroccan identity, told by those who live these stories", declared Ms. Benm’Barek to the MAP, highlighting the importance of "giving confidence to young people so that they dare and listen to themselves", while emphasizing that this festival is a true intergenerational meeting, carrying hope for the future of Moroccan cinema.

She also highlighted the need to value projects led by young people, by affirming that "previous generations must provide their support, their help, and their advice to the following ones".

For the filmmaker, this is how dialogue is created and how emerging voices can build themselves.

Evoking the works screened during the festival, Meryem Benm’Barek said she was "extremely touched" by the quality of the stories offered, by the sense of framing, narration, and identity that emanate from these young talents, adding that this new generation "gives me confidence in the future of Moroccan cinema".

For her part, Naziha Houki, founder of the festival and professor at Al Akhawayn University, noted that this event is the result of "a very clear mission, to believe in these young talents", adding that "the film industry can prove difficult" and it is necessary to support these young people.

She also highlighted the sincerity and authenticity of the films presented, carrying stories from deep Morocco, "regions that we do not see in cinema and stories that we do not hear in cinema".

The closing ceremony, punctuated by a musical interlude by the University choir, celebrated a new generation of promising filmmakers, who carry with strength and sensitivity the multiple voices of contemporary Morocco.

Organized from April 3 to 5 by Al Akhawayn University, this annual festival celebrates the cinematic creativity of young students from film schools and institutes in the Kingdom. This edition highlighted a talented, bold generation deeply attached to telling stories rooted in Moroccan reality.