Fez — Two Moroccan films have won awards in Cairo during the closing ceremony of the 10th “Al-Awdah” International Film Festival, adding new recognition for Morocco’s cinema scene on the Arab festival circuit.
The Moroccan feature film “Goundafa, The Cursed Song,” directed by Ali Benjelloun, won “The Key of Return” award for best film addressing the question of Al-Quds.
The second Moroccan award went to “Bottles,” directed by Yassine Idrissi, with young actor Youssef Benmamoun receiving the prize for best young actor.
Two different stories, one Moroccan presence
“Goundafa, The Cursed Song” takes place in a village in the High Atlas. The film follows the tensions created by the arrival of an imam in an Amazigh community where music is central to local identity.
The story explores a clash between local tradition, religious conservatism, and outside influence. It also presents Amazigh culture as a living force, not only a backdrop. Through that conflict, the film looks at how rigid readings of religion can disturb social balance in small communities.
“Bottles” tells a quieter but emotional story. It follows Said, a 13-year-old boy who collects empty bottles to sell them. He uses the money to secretly feed a dog, despite his family’s beliefs and social pressures. The film is listed as an 18-minute 2024 production by Yassine El Idrissi, with Youssef Benmamoun among its cast.
The two films differ in scale and subject, but both focus on young or vulnerable characters facing rules imposed by their surroundings.
A festival built around memory
The “Al-Awdah” International Film Festival is centered on Palestinian memory, return, land, and cultural resistance. This year’s edition brought together 356 films from 39 countries, with works addressing return, land, identity, and the resilience of the Palestinian people.
During the closing ceremony, festival president and founder Saoud Mehna said the event aims to revive Palestinian memory and strengthen the national narrative through art and cinema. He said the festival continues its cultural mission despite the ongoing bloody genocide in Gaza.
The edition was organized by the Palestinian Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Cairo and the General Union of Palestinian Women-Egypt. It also featured conferences, workshops, and meetings with filmmakers and critics focused on Arab cinema.
