Marrakech – The 18th edition of the Tangier International University Theater Festival (FITUT) opened Monday evening at the Palace of Arts and Culture, gathering academics, dramatists, artists, and students from Morocco and abroad.
The festival is organized by the Association for University Action (ASAU) of the National School of Commerce and Management (ENCG) in Tangier, in partnership with Abdelmalek Essaâdi University (UAE).
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Green March, FITUT aims to serve as a vibrant platform for creative expression and artistic dialogue.
In his opening remarks, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University President Bouchta El Moumni emphasized that FITUT has grown beyond a mere artistic event, becoming a cultural landmark celebrating creativity, openness, and diversity, according to MAP.
He noted that this year’s edition takes place in a particularly significant national context, marked by both the Green March anniversary and the UN Security Council’s resolution on the Moroccan Sahara.
“El Moumni highlighted that the festival provides students with a space for expression and exchange through theater, an art form that fosters dialogue and connection. Previous editions have confirmed the critical role of university theater in shaping young people and promoting values of tolerance, communication, and intercultural exchange.”
Stéphanie Petitbon, French Consul General in Tangier and Deputy Director of the French Institute, praised FITUT as a major cultural event, underlining Tangier’s role as a key hub for artistic dialogue and international collaboration.
Festival Director Tahar Elqour added that FITUT continues its path toward international recognition, hosting troupes from several friendly nations. “Through the universal language of theater, this festival strengthens cultural dialogue and promotes shared human values,” he told MAP.
The opening ceremony also introduced this year’s jury, featuring actress and author Majida Benkiran, actor and director Mohammed Zaki, communication expert Ahmed Eddafri, and Moroccan theater icon Saadia Azgoun.
Tributes were paid to national theater figures Ahmed Chhima and Khalid Belaziz for their remarkable contributions to Morocco’s performing arts scene.
The festival, running until November 7, features performances across Tangier’s cultural spaces, including the Palace of Arts and Culture, the New England University, and Salle Beckett.
Participants include students from Egypt, Spain, France, Lithuania, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, and Portugal, alongside Moroccan university theater troupes from across the country.
FITUT’s program also includes a cultural visit to the Kasbah of Tangier and a roundtable discussion titled “Performances from Southern Morocco: Memory of Places and Festivity Dynamics.”
