Fez — Tangier is set to host the 12th Cap Spartel International Film Festival from April 22 to 25, under the theme “Cinema, cultural diversity and dialogue.”
The event is organized by the “Observatoire marocain de l’image et des médias” (Moroccan Observatory of Image and Media), which said this year’s edition will welcome Spain as the guest of honor.
The program is expected to combine screenings with professional meetings, training workshops developed through Swiss and Spanish partnerships, and visits to key cultural institutions across Tangier.
A competition lineup built around dialogue
Organizers said the festival will feature a competition section with nine films, alongside six additional titles presented in a panorama format, across fiction and documentary categories.
The selection is set to represent a wide geographic range, including Morocco, Spain, France, Iran, Azerbaijan, Italy, Switzerland, India, Syria and Tunisia.
While the festival is anchored in cinema, its stated ambition goes beyond projection rooms. The theme points toward film as a tool for cultural exchange, and the organizers’ framing emphasizes dialogue across languages, histories, and artistic traditions.
International jury and tributes
The festival’s awards will be decided by an international jury that includes Spanish producer and director Jordi Esteva, Iranian critic and journalist Parviz Jahed, Moroccan-French filmmaker Hassan Legzouli, FCAFF vice president Sylvie Morata, Spanish actress Barbara Shunyi, and Portuguese filmmaker Manuel Batista, director of the Loulé Film Institute.
This year’s edition will also pay tribute to Moroccan director Layla Triqui, with organizers linking the spirit of her work to the festival’s theme. A separate tribute is planned for Tangier comedian Nadia El Alami, alongside other regional media figures.
Workshops aimed at the next generation
In addition to screenings, the festival plans activities aimed at students, using artistic formats as entry points to broader civic values.
Organizers said the educational component will include hands-on workshops that touch on areas such as visual expression, screenwriting, cooking, and mosaic art for school-aged participants.
