Fez — The Marrakech Short Film Festival wrapped its fifth edition with “Milk Brothers” by director Kenza Tazi taking Best Film, capping a week of open-air screenings, workshops, and industry meetups across landmark venues including El Badi Palace and Cyber Park. The 2025 edition ran September 26–October 1.
In the national competition, “Chikha” by Zahwa El Raji and Ayoub El Yousfi earned Best Direction, while Nisrine Adam won Best Actress for “Beneath a Mother’s Feet.” The jury also issued a Special Mention to “Lady of the Grave” by Mohamed Allali.
International awards highlighted a broad slate: the Nakhil/Palms prize for Best Direction went to “Shadows” by Rand Beiruti, and Best Film in the international competition went to “Stero” by Tifan Kimati and Milan Taris, underscoring the strong storytelling on display this year.
Partner distinctions broadened the spotlight. “Beneath a Mother’s Feet” received a Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival Excellence Award, “Mirror for Sale” by Amal Hicham was honored by the Alexandria Short Film Festival, and both “Chikha” and “DarHome” by Salma Belghiti won the La Luna Productions prize. “Milk Brothers” also took a TIFF Short (Toronto) Excellence Award, while Locarno recognized “Chikha,” and ZINEBI Bilbao saluted all participating films.
Director Nour Eddine Lakhmari presented the Festival Favorite award to “The Zero Line” by Shaman Ramesh Kishan, which includes an invitation to a creative residency in Morocco to further develop the project.
Jury member Fatima-Zahra Jouhari said the program offered a window onto emerging voices and celebrated El Salvador as guest of honor, noting the range and diversity among Moroccan student and alumni filmmakers. Venues across the city hosted screenings and a “Pitch Your Short” platform that singled out Salma Belghiti for her upcoming project “Kanaf.”
The festival positions Marrakech as a hub for new cinema and discovery, blending public showcases with professional support to help short films travel beyond Morocco. Organizers emphasized the festival’s open-air format and its mission to connect audiences, artists, and partners across continents.
