Fez — The documentary film “Amílcar,” by Spanish director Miguel Eek, has won the “Nouzha Drissi” Grand Prize at the 17th Agadir International Documentary Film Festival (FIDADOC), which announced its winners on Wednesday evening.
The 97-minute documentary explores the life, thought, and political legacy of Amílcar Cabral, one of the major figures of the independence struggles in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde. The film places Cabral’s revolutionary journey within a broader reflection on anti-colonial struggle, memory, and political inheritance.
The award adds another distinction to Eek’s documentary, which has been circulating across international film events. “Amílcar” is a documentary centered on history, human rights, social issues, and the political life of the Bissau-Guinean and Cape Verdean leader.
A closing night for documentary cinema
The festival’s closing ceremony brought together artistic and cultural figures in Agadir, celebrating both the winning films and the wider role of documentary cinema as a space for dialogue.
The Special Jury Prize went to “Du Soleil et du Plomb” by Jérôme le Maire, while the First Feature-Length Film Prize went to Lauren Dallenbach’s “Nicole Nicole.”
Partner awards also recognized several projects and filmmakers. The ALCA / Institut des Afriques Prize went to Jeannine Dissirama Bessoga for “Kumfoga,” while the Moulin d’Andé Prize was awarded to Abdou Fall for “Sénégal, révolution, gouvernance.”
The Al Jazeera Documentary Channel Coproduction Award went to Fadwa El Menzhi for “Meksa Amgaru,” and Ilyas Bousseta won the Ruche Documentaire Prize for “The Sons of Silence.”
Youssef Chahine remembered
The closing night also paid tribute to Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Chahine, one of the most influential figures in Arab and African cinema.
The festival screened “Le Caire raconté par Youssef Chahine” (Cairo as Told by Youssef Chahine) in the presence of his niece, filmmaker Marianne Khoury, who shared memories of Chahine’s artistic legacy and his lasting impact on generations of filmmakers.
Organized by the Association of Culture and Education through Audiovisual Media, this year’s edition took place from June 19 to 24. The program featured 28 films from 16 countries, with filmmakers and protagonists attending screenings and public discussions.
The international competition brought together nine feature-length documentaries, judged by filmmakers Karima Saïdi, Nelson Makengo, and Aurélie Sfez.
As Morocco’s first festival dedicated exclusively to documentary cinema, FIDADOC continues to strengthen Agadir’s cultural identity while giving audiences access to films that connect personal stories with wider political, social, and historical questions.
