Morocco’s position in international cinema can no longer be measured solely by the number of films shot on its territory, the capacity of its studios or the scale of the cultural events it hosts. It must also be assessed through its ability to build a genuine cinematic environment in which national creativity engages with international experiences, artistic visions and cultures intersect, and film professionals exchange knowledge and expertise.
Over the years, Marrakech has emerged as one of the prominent destinations on the international cultural and cinematic map. Its growing openness to the world of cinema reflects an ambition that goes beyond hosting international productions and events. It points towards a broader objective: becoming an active participant in the development and influence of global cinema.
It is within this evolving landscape that the International Very Short Film Festival of Marrakech, in collaboration with ELARAKI International School of Morocco, is organising a special meeting with three professionals from different cinematic backgrounds. The event will take place on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., at the institution’s ENNAKHIL Campus.
Entitled “Meeting with Artists”, the event will bring together Hicham Ibrahimi, Moroccan actor and director; Vanessa-Tatjana Beerli, Canadian filmmaker; and Andrea Morghen, Italian filmmaker.
Beyond the national diversity of its guests, the meeting offers an opportunity to bring different artistic sensibilities and professional experiences into conversation. It also provides another platform for Moroccan cinema to engage directly with filmmakers whose creative backgrounds have been shaped by different cultural and production environments.
Different Cinematic Traditions, One Universal Artistic Language
The significance of this meeting lies in the opportunity to explore different approaches to filmmaking. Bringing a Moroccan artist together with a Canadian filmmaker and an Italian director is more than a symbolic gathering of three nationalities. It creates an opportunity to examine how different cinematic traditions approach storytelling, directing, acting, visual composition and the construction of dramatic time.
Hicham Ibrahimi represents a perspective rooted in Moroccan cinematic practice. His participation offers an opportunity to explore the evolution of the national film scene and the realities facing Moroccan actors and directors in an industry whose production methods and creative opportunities continue to evolve.
Vanessa-Tatjana Beerli, from Canada, and Andrea Morghen, from Italy, bring perspectives shaped by different cultural and professional environments. Their presence broadens the discussion to include alternative approaches to filmmaking and the challenges of creative production across different cinematic landscapes.
The purpose is not simply to present individual careers. It is to create a direct exchange about the professions behind cinema, their changing realities and the opportunities offered by international artistic cooperation.
Very Short Films: Limited Screen Time, Unlimited Creative Possibilities
The meeting gains additional significance from its connection to the International Very Short Film Festival of Marrakech. Very short films are built around narrative economy and concentrated expression. Within a limited duration, filmmakers must establish an idea, construct an image, create a rhythm and convey an emotion without relying on the extended storytelling possibilities of longer formats.
Far from being merely an introductory stage before moving on to feature filmmaking, the very short film can stand as an independent artistic form. It demands a particular mastery of visual storytelling and the ability to transform seemingly ordinary details into images carrying broader human and cultural meaning.
This format also offers valuable creative opportunities for emerging filmmakers. It allows new generations to experiment with their visual languages, explore alternative narrative structures and develop original artistic approaches, sometimes with more accessible production resources.
From this perspective, welcoming film professionals into an educational institution adds an important cultural and educational dimension to the festival. Cinema moves beyond the screening room and enters a space dedicated to learning, discussion and the transmission of knowledge.
The objective is no longer simply to watch films, but to understand how they are made, which professions contribute to their creation and what skills are required to transform an idea into an audiovisual work.
Morocco: From a Destination for Global Filmmaking to a Contributor to Its Future
Over recent decades, Morocco has developed significant assets that have strengthened its international cinematic visibility. Its technical infrastructure, filming locations, artistic and technical expertise, and growing festival network have helped establish the Kingdom as an attractive destination for international productions.
Yet international visibility is only one part of the equation. The ambition to join the ranks of the world’s major cinematic nations cannot rest exclusively on hosting foreign productions or organising prestigious festivals. It also requires a strong national film industry capable of producing competitive works, distributing them, promoting them internationally and securing a lasting presence in global cinematic networks.
This ambition calls for stronger professional training, more effective financing mechanisms, protection of creators’ rights, expanded co-production opportunities and a more prominent presence for Moroccan films at international festivals, film markets and distribution networks.
This is what gives the Marrakech meeting a significance extending beyond its immediate programme. It forms part of a broader cultural movement in which Morocco is no longer content merely to observe international cinematic experiences. It increasingly seeks to engage with them, share its own expertise and position Moroccan artists as partners in an increasingly interconnected film industry.
The real challenge now is to turn this openness into a sustainable process. Professional meetings should not remain isolated events. They should become bridges connecting filmmakers, producers, educational institutions and festivals, creating opportunities for collaboration, production and international exposure for Moroccan talent.
Once again, Marrakech provides a setting in which cinema emerges as a language that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries. It offers Morocco another opportunity to present its identity and creative dynamism to the world through artistic expression, images and dialogue.
The Kingdom’s cinematic ambition is therefore no longer limited to becoming a country that welcomes major figures from the seventh art. It is also about becoming a place where it creates alongside them, participates in shaping the industry’s evolution and contributes to defining the future of cinema.
Event Information
- Event: Meeting with Artists – International Very Short Film Festival of Marrakech.
- Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026.
- Time: 4:00 p.m.
- Venue: ELARAKI International School of Morocco – ENNAKHIL Campus.
- Guests:
- Hicham Ibrahimi – Moroccan actor and director.
- Vanessa-Tatjana Beerli – Canadian filmmaker.
- Andrea Morghen – Italian filmmaker.
Three cinematic experiences, three cultural horizons and one shared passion for the seventh art. Because the power of cinema lies not only in the images presented to audiences, but also in the conversations taking place behind the camera and the cultural bridges that make filmmaking a universal language open to the future.
