Rabat – Acclaimed Moroccan stop-motion short film “Harun & Mamun,” directed by Jihane Joypaul, has been officially selected for the prestigious MIFA Pitches Partenaires program at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
“Harun & Mamun” tells the story of a father and son navigating a world frozen in time by the impending crash of a meteorite.
Through this spatial stillness, the short film explores themes of trauma, memory, and family reconnection in an urban setting inspired by Casablanca. Blending striking visuals and a sensory-driven narrative, the 13 minute film is designed for audiences of all ages.
This marks Morocco’s second consecutive presence at Annecy, following a remarkable participation in 2024. The selection of “Harun & Mamun” confirms the country’s growing presence in the global animation industry and reflects a broader push to develop a structured professional ecosystem for Moroccan animation.
Under the oversight of Abdelaziz Bouzdaini, the initiative is supported by the Moroccan Cinema Center (CCM.) Currently in development, the film is produced by Ali Rguigue, a key figure in Moroccan animation.
The sets are being created in Morocco’s first dedicated stop-motion studio, which is housed at Flow Motion School, with support from international partners such as the Animasyros Festival, the Institut Français du Maroc, the CCM, and Artcoustic Studios.
The official pitch took place on June 12 at the Impérial Palace during MIFA (Marché International du Film d’Animation), and was selected among the top five projects in its category.
The short film has highly been praised from major institutions including France’s CNC (Centre National du Cinéma) and CITIA (Cité de l’Image en Mouvement), as well as from key animation figures such as Matt Groening (The Simpsons,) Ron Clements (Aladdin,) (The Little Mermaid,) Kristof Serrand (Astérix,) and Gints Zilbalodis (Flow.)
The selection of “Harun & Mamun” highlights Morocco’s rising role in international co-productions.
At the most recent Cannes Film Festival, discussions around the upcoming co-produced project “Malik,” directed by Khalid Nait Zlay, further signaled the strengthening of ties between Morocco, France, and Canada in the animation sector.
This surge is one of the driving forces behind the launch of a pan-African initiative called “Africa and Diaspora Animation.”
With over 50 members across the continent, the goal is to promote collaboration, skill-sharing, and stronger networks between African animators and the diaspora.
