Fez — Moroccan film producers Lamia Chraïbi and Karim Aïtouna have been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the Oscars, in a new recognition of Morocco’s growing presence in international cinema.
The Academy announced on June 24 that it had extended invitations to 529 artists and executives who have “distinguished themselves by their contributions to motion pictures.” The 2026 class includes 95 Oscar nominees, among them 21 winners.
Chraïbi and Aïtouna both appear in the Producers branch of the Academy’s new invitee list. The Academy cited Aïtouna for “Poisonous Roses” and “Where the Wind Comes From,” while Chraïbi was listed for “Mica” and “The End.”
A global class of film professionals
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor welcomed the new class, saying the invitees had made significant contributions to the global film industry.
The organization said 42% of the 2026 invitees are women, 56% belong to underrepresented communities, and 53% come from 60 countries and territories outside the United States. Those who accept the invitations will be the Academy’s only new members this year.
For Moroccan cinema, the inclusion of Chraïbi and Aïtouna highlights the increasing visibility of producers working between Morocco, Europe, and wider international festival circuits.
Two Moroccan producers with international reach
Chraïbi is among Morocco’s most active contemporary producers, with credits spanning fiction and documentary cinema. Her work has supported filmmakers whose projects have circulated across festivals and art-house networks, helping connect Moroccan stories with international audiences.
Aïtouna, who works between Morocco and France, has also built a career around cross-border production. His filmography includes projects screened at major festivals, reflecting a production model rooted in collaboration across languages, markets, and cinematic traditions.
Their invitations place them within one of the world’s most influential film institutions, whose members vote on the Oscars and take part in broader Academy activities linked to cinema, preservation, education, and industry development.
