Discoveries from Morocco World Cinema

A couple celebrates their son’s birthday in the middle of the ocean on their boat. A violent storm hits and it brings up hungry creatures from the depths and they fight for their survival.

Diplomats from the North and South Korean embassies in Somalia attempt a daring joint escape from Mogadishu when the outbreak of civil war leaves them stranded.

After an Ayahuasca vision transports him to a haunted castle, Alec meets Hanna who tales him the story of her mother's forced marriage and how the forbidden passion with her father was in danger when the princess pregnancy became obvious

Maria Angeles, a 79-year-old Spanish woman, lives alone in Tangier, Morocco, and enjoys her daily routine. However, her life is turned upside down when her daughter arrives from Madrid to sell the apartment in which she has always lived. Determined to stay, she does everything she can to get her home and her belongings back and, unexpectedly, rediscovers love and sensuality.

Juliette, a lone survivor of an apocalyptic era, fights to survive against hunger, thirst, a broken leg and strange disturbing creatures that only come out at nighttime.

In sixth-century Mecca, Prophet Muhammad receives his first revelation from God as a messenger. Three years later, he's not alone in his quest and publicly declares his prophecy. Muhammad is fought by Abu Sufian and his wife Hind, rulers of Mecca. Muhammad's followers are hunted and tortured but he continues his calling.

A social drama about four marginalized prostitutes in Marrakech and their complex relations with their families and society at large.

Mehdi leads an exemplary life with his family and Selma, his new girlfriend in Marrakech. For the young couple, things are going smoothly until Mehdi meets Marie, a young French woman caught up in the social life of the expatriate community.

One summer evening, three childhood friends invoke the spirit of Kandisha, a vengeful creature from a Moroccan legend. The game quickly turns into a nightmare when their loved ones begin to disappear.

Cairo, 2011. A police officer investigates the murder of a woman in a luxurious hotel in the days leading up to the Egyptian revolution.

Manipulated by his jealous ensign Iago, the Moorish general Othello is driven to believe that his new wife Desdemona is unfaithful, setting in motion a chain of deception, jealousy, and violence that leads to tragedy.

War seen through the eyes of Serra, a university student from Palermo who volunteers in 1942 to fight in Africa. He is assigned to the Pavia Division on the southern line in Egypt. Rommel and the Axis forces are bogged down; it's October, the British prepare an offensive. At first, boredom, heat, hunger, and thirst bedevil the Italians; then the Brits attack, and there's no luck or heroism in death. Finally, it's retreat in confusion. Serra, his sergeant Rizzo, and his lieutenant Fiori take a last walk toward home. It's said that each soldier gets three miracles; when Serra's are used up, what then?

A lost backpack sets young Amin on a daring journey, testing the limits of familial love and personal sacrifice.

The making of Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Babel is chronicled through an observational approach that captures the creative and logistical challenges of filming a deeply interconnected narrative across four continents. Directed by Carlos Armella and Pedro González-Rubio, the documentary reveals Iñárritu’s commitment to authenticity and cultural sensitivity, from collaborating with local actors and communities to meticulously recreating environments. Through behind-the-scenes footage and the director’s reflective commentary, it delves into themes of human connection, the boundaries we hold within ourselves, and the visceral nature of communication, offering profound insights into the philosophy behind the acclaimed film.

A comedy/drama set in a village and centered on a battle of the sexes, where women threaten to withhold sexual favours as long as the men refuse to install a water pipe.

Hakim is a professional hacker and used to muscular interrogations. But his last encounter with the Moroccan secret service will change his life forever. He will discover that his genes give him extraordinary powers. And if they manifest themselves now, it is for a very simple reason: he is the only one who can prevent a global catastrophe…

Farid was three years old when his beloved father disappeared. The elders whispered that he had fled Morocco for another woman, never to return. Farid grew up in the shadow of this repressed absence, got married, and embarked on a promising career. Then, a letter from Montreal arrived. The truth came crashing down, cruelly, after decades of lies: it was at the request of Farid's mother that his father had left them, and it wasn't for another woman, but because he himself aspired to be one... So Farid set out to turn back time and meet the long-awaited mother he never met.

A carefree summer vacation turns into an inescapable terror trap for a group of young students who buy a vintage instant camera from a mysterious local shop owner...

Ali, Kwita, Omar and Boubker are street kids. The daily dose of glue sniffing represents their only escape from reality. Since they left Dib and his gang, they have been living on the portside of Casablanca. They live in constant fear of Dib's revenge. Ali wants to become a sailor - when he was living with his mother, a prostitute, he used to listen to a fairy tale about the sailor who discovered the miracle island with two suns. Instead of finding his island in the dream, Ali and his friends are confronted with Dib's gang. Matters are getting serious.

Checco is a young Apulian entrepreneur dreamer who has opened a sushi restaurant in his Apulia. However, after one month, the restaurant went bankrupt and he chose to emigrate to Africa to escape from debt. Here he adapts to being a waiter in a resort in Kenya, but at the outbreak of a civil war he decides to embark on a stowaway trip on a boat for migrants to Europe and chooses to do it with his African friends. However, he would not like to return to Italy, but rather to go to Liechtenstein where banking secrecy is in force and there is a lower tax burden than in Italy.

Ousmane, a young Senegalese albino, and his mother Aïchata flee their homeland to escape the marginalization and death threats from local sorcerers. They embark on a perilous journey to Europe. Their desert crossing exposes them to constant dangers and the cruel indifference of unscrupulous individuals. At the heart of this odyssey, they discover the depth of the human soul, between compassion and cruelty, forging a path toward light despite the surrounding darkness.

Based on director Aureliano Amadei's 2003 experiences in Iraq, 20 Cigarettes is the gripping story of a twenty-eight year old anarchist and anti-war activist who receives an offer to fly to Iraq as assistant director on a film about the Italian military peace mission.

Karim, his fiancée Mouna and his father Miloud are celebrating the start of their hôtel, L'HÔTEL DE LA PAIX. But when a plumber discovers a mysterious object in the wall, a series of paranormal events happen.

In a quiet Moroccan village nestled between sun-baked hills, 13-year-old Mira lives with her stern, widowed grandmother, Zainab. Her world is simple. Trees. Traps. The flutter of wings. Mira spends her days freeing wild birds, chasing shadows through pine-scented forests. But one day, strangers arrive. Illegal immigrants. Foreign. Silent. Hunted. They speak in a language she doesn't know – but something in her stirs.

"Islam" by Georges Régnier (1949) is a documentary about Islamic art in Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Spain. The documentary received a special mention at the Venice Film Festival in 1949. Georges Régnier, a French documentary filmmaker active in the post-war period, was interested in North African cultures and colonial issues. In this film, he traces the history of Islam and its architectural art across these regions, and describes the expansion of Islam from Arabia to the Maghreb and Andalusia, highlighting mosques, minarets, and palaces such as those in Kairouan, Algiers, and Marrakech, all accompanied by the sounds of the Arabic call to prayer.

Twenty-seven-year-old Nour has immigrated illegally to Marseille, where he and his friends live a marginal and festive life. From 1990 to 2000, Nour loves, grows older and clings to his dreams, damaged by the melancholy of an irreversible exile.

Rome in 65 AD, Emperor Nero's tyrannical regime has reached its zenith, Nero's self-indulgence and excessiveness brings up the opposition against him, conspiracies threaten his power. By all means Nero tries to defend his despotic claim of sovereignty. The famous philosopher Seneca has been Nero's teacher, mentor and close advisor since childhood, he is significantly involved in his ascent. Nevertheless, Nero gets weary of Seneca and Nero uses a foiled attack on his life to falsely accuse Seneca of being an accomplice.

Casablanca, the year of the baccalaureate. The carefree life of Morocco's golden youth and all its excesses: car races, friendships, music, alcohol, but also first loves and the anxiety of transitioning to adulthood... Marock presents a side of Morocco that is often unknown, seen through the eyes of Rita, 17, who is determined to live life on her own terms.

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE, more than any other, fits the category of ancient biography. Luke, as "narrator" of events, sees Jesus as the "Savior" of all people, always on the side of the needy and the deprived. Narrated in the NIV by British actor Richard E. Grant and in the KJV by Sir Derek Jacobi, this epic production featuring specially constructed sets and the authentic countryside of Morocco has been critically acclaimed by leading religious scholars as a unique and highly authentic telling of the Jesus story.

Yousry Nasrallah's powerful adaptation of Lebanese writer Elias Khoury's epic novel of fifty years of Palestinian dispossession, exile, and resistance. The film follows the flight of Younes, his wife Nahila, and those around them, from their village in northern Palestine to a refugee camp in Lebanon. Some vow to continue the struggle, most simply struggle to survive. Unsparingly detailing the impact of the nakba (disaster) on Palestinian life and society and the refugees' often-contentious relationship with their reluctant Lebanese hosts, Gate of the Sun spans generations, mixing personal stories with historical events.

Alfredo is a crude Roman motorcycle repairman who is a friend of Count Max, a gentleman and ex-pleasure lover. The latter invites Alfredo to his residence in Campo dei Fiori and teaches him etiquette, French and how to play poker. The laughter will begin when Alfredo meets and chases the beautiful model Isabell Bellissima in Paris.

Abla runs a modest local bakery from her home in Casablanca where she lives alone with her 8-year-old daughter Warda. Their routine of housework and homework is interrupted one day by a knock on the door. It is Samia, a young woman looking for a job and a roof over her head. The little girl is immediately taken with the newcomer, but her mother initially refuses to allow a pregnant stranger into their home. Gradually, however, Abla's resolve softens and Samia's arrival begins to offer all of them the prospect of a new life.

A beautiful widow is determined to uncover the facts behind her husband's death.

In 1568, Saadi prince Abdelmalek is exiled from Morocco by his brothers, an event that is only the beginning of his adventures: fighting the Spanish Inquisition, taking part in the Battle of Lepanto, being incarcerated in Alicante prison, and assist in the Conquest of Tunis. Eventually, he returns to Morocco to fulfill his destiny.

Abdellah, a young shepherd living in the mountains, is forced to brave the snow blocking him in order to get food and save this cattle. Once he gets to the village, he faces a supernatural phenomenon.

In Casablanca, Ali, Hmida, Mbarek and Messoud are four unemployed youths who spend their time dreaming of a better life in the Netherlands. One day, Hmida falls on a specialist of illegal immigration, Ouchen. The four friends manage to collect enough money only for the departure of one of them, Hmida. Several months later, it still has not given any sign of life. Ali, Mbarek and Messoud discovering that he is not in Holland but in Afghanistan, they decide to go looking for him on the road to Kabul.

Ali, an amateur actor, gets caught up in a bizarre situation after he posts a compromising selfie on social media. The photo captures Sam with his mistress, Ibtissam. To protect Sam, Ali is asked to pose as her lover. Tricked into believing he is auditioning for a film, Ali agrees to take on the “role.” But Ibtissam is kidnapped by a gang, plunging Ali and his friends into a dangerous adventure.

Leila, a young woman in contemporary Morocco who is caught between her own desires and the societal and familial expectations that bind her. As she navigates the pressures of tradition and personal identity, Leila faces a heartbreaking choice that forces her to confront the deep conflicts within herself.

When a rapper-turned-teacher brings hip-hop to a community center in an impoverished area of Casablanca, his tough methods spark an explosion of talent.

A Moroccan-Norwegian co-production about the dark side of Casablanca (Casanegra). In a country where good virtues are the norm in public, Casanegra shows the vices: domestic violence, alcohol abuse and drug abuse. Meet Karim and Adil and their struggle in the big city.

A young engineer's dream of becoming a fighter pilot for the Royal Moroccan Air Force is put on hold until he unravels the mystery of his missing parents.

After transferring to a high school near her home, Leila was initially pleased with her new position. However, she soon found herself facing significant challenges in Class 8, known for its difficulties. Two particularly troublesome students began causing her problems, which not only disrupted her professional life but also impacted her personal well-being.

Zaz, a man leading a simple life, has his life turned upside down by a video that goes viral on social media. His newfound fame leads him to be involved in advertisements and unexpected situations, creating tension with his family and drawing him into complex legal issues.

Touda is a Sheikha, a traditional Moroccan singer. Performing in the bars of her provincial town under the gaze of men, she plans to leave for the lights of Casablanca in search of recognition and to ensure a better future for her deaf-mute son.

For the last screening before it closes for good, the Marhaba cinema is showing Spider-Man 3. Hassan, an 11 years old, absolutely wants to go. But he doesn't have a cent and his mother refuses to let him go with his friends. But Hassan has only one thing in mind: to go and see the film, whatever the cost!

A son gets radicalized by an extremist group online. One night he decides to leave for Syria to join the rebels fight against the regime. To bring him back, his mother takes the most dangerous trip of her life. Disguises as a journalist, she joins a convoy to get into the combat zone; and ends up surrounded by a patrol of Kurdish fighters. Being ambushed by the militia and surviving, she witnesses the devastations of war and a world in agony. But her unconditional love for her child and determination, allows her the courage to overcome ever obstacle and survive. All she wants is to bring her son home alive.

Leila is a former concert pianist from Aleppo, which bore much of the brunt of the ghastly Syrian Civil War. Now living in exile in Paris, she works as a caregiver for Georges, a diplomat nearing the end of his life. Within the confines of his opulent apartment, filled with relics of colonial memory, Leila begins to experience ghostly visitations from her late husband and son. At first tender, these apparitions gradually take on a sinister form, blurring the lines between trauma and madness, memory and haunting. As the echo of distant bombs returns, the walls between Georges’s apartment and Leila’s lost home begin to collapse.

The Gospel of Mark filmed by The Lumo Project which brings the original Jesus narrative to the screen using the Gospel text as its script, word for word. Informed by leading world experts' latest theological, historical and archaeological research on every aspect of life in first century Palestine, this is a ground breaking multi-million pound film series that revolutionises the way we experience and understand the story of Jesus.

Jaafar and Fanida, who swap bodies after a scientific experiment aimed at paying for their wedding dowry, leading to a race against time to fix the issue in seven days.

The true story of Moroccan writer Mohamed Choukri, who grew up in poverty and illiteracy, with a violent father and a submissive mother who was the family's sole source of support.

Dream or Reality ! Two lost souls meet in strange ways through various fragments of dreamlike memories. As we delve into their complicated relationship and their story unfolds, their relationship seems to disintegrate, leaving us to wonder if it will survive this reality or dream.

L'Gharbi works in a newspaper's telex booth to classify dispatches. One day while reading a dispatch relating to an island whose governor had disappeared, Al Gharbi identified with the character of the governor of the island of “Chakerbakerben”

A man tries to cure his friend of his video-game obsession by using a virtual reality machine. When the device traps his friend in a virtual world, he goes in to help him fight for his life.

The whole family is reunited when Sofia comes back for his father's funeral. Quickly, inner problems are revealed.

This Moroccan romance is a kind of Arab Tristan and Isolde: the heroine kills herself when she is convinced no one cares for her, the young nobleman she thought would love her is killed by a madwoman.

Based on Jaouad Mdidech’s renowned account, La chambre noire is a powerful reconstruction and reflection on the horror of what Moroccans have called the “Leaden Years,” when the government enforced an oppression of Political dissenters.

In Casablanca, a group of filmmakers conduct discussions with people about their expectations of, and aspirations for, the emerging Moroccan national cinema. When a disgruntled worker kills his superior accidentally, their inquest shifts focus, and they begin to probe the motives of the killing.

A former CIA agent is forced by crooked agents of the government to pose as a notorious smuggler of the Tangier Straits who happens to be a stiff

Hasna leaves her native Morocco to work as a seasonal laborer picking strawberries in Huelva, Andalucia.

Rachid is a young man who survives in Morroco boxing in clandestine fights in order to save enough money with which to pay a smuggler, and be able to cross the Strait of Gibraltar with his two friends.