Fez — Cinema is stepping beyond entertainment to confront some of Morocco’s most sensitive social realities. On January 16 and 17, the eighth edition of CinéPsyMaroc will take place in Casablanca, using film as a tool to open conversations around suicide and alternative therapeutic practices.
Held at the Ritz Cinema, the event aims to break the silence surrounding mental health struggles that often remain invisible. Organizers describe the festival as a rare space for reflection, free discussion, and collective understanding, where fear and stigma give way to dialogue.
Understanding the suicide crisis through cinema
The first day, January 16, focuses entirely on the suicide epidemic. Rather than treating the subject as statistics or isolated incidents, the program approaches it as a complex human experience shaped by psychological, social, and emotional factors.
Through film screenings followed by debates, clinical analyses, and open discussions, specialists and participants will explore the warning signs, risk factors, and forms of support available. The objective is not to provide simple answers, but to encourage deeper understanding and empathy.
In a context where suicide remains largely taboo in Morocco, the event is positioned as a crucial moment for awareness and collective responsibility.
Alternative therapies under critical discussion
On Saturday January 17, the festival broadens its scope to alternative and complementary therapies to combat mental health challenges. Practices such as hypnosis, art therapy, and body-centered approaches are increasingly visible, yet often misunderstood.
CinéPsyMaroc proposes a balanced examination of these methods. Without idealizing or dismissing them, the program invites professionals, practitioners, researchers, and the public to assess their benefits, limits, and ethical use within broader therapeutic journeys.
Workshops, screenings, and interactive discussions will allow participants to confront different perspectives and experiences.
Cinema as a tool for social engagement
Since its creation, CinéPsyMaroc has defended a singular vision: by placing cinema at the intersection of culture and mental health, they use storytelling to make difficult subjects accessible and discussable.
This eighth edition reinforces that mission. By addressing suffering that often goes unspoken, the festival insists on the importance of naming, sharing, and understanding psychological pain.
In a society where mental health remains under-discussed, CinéPsyMaroc positions cinema as a first step toward care, awareness, and social change.
