Cristian Mungiu Named Patron of the 2025 Marrakech International Film Festival’s Atlas Workshops
Renowned Romanian director Cristian Mungiu, a Palme d’Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival, has been announced as the patron of the Marrakech International Film Festival’s Atlas Workshops for 2025. Mungiu follows in the footsteps of celebrated filmmaker Jeff Nichols, who held the position last year.
Mungiu is a pivotal figure in contemporary European cinema, best known for his acclaimed film "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days," which earned him the prestigious Palme d’Or in 2007. His filmography also includes award-winning titles such as "Beyond the Hills," "Graduation," and "R.M.N."
The Atlas Workshops, established in 2018, are a key component of the Atlas Programs, a new initiative aimed at fostering professional development in the filmmaking community through the support of the festival foundation. As the patron of these workshops, Mungiu will mentor the 28 selected projects, which will feature directors collectively known as the “Class of Cristian Mungiu.”
Expressing his excitement about returning to Marrakech, Mungiu stated, “I am very happy to come back to Marrakech, a vibrant festival that uses the power of cinema to bring together people from diverse backgrounds around the globe.” He further emphasized the importance of cinema as a means to explore reality and promote understanding among different cultures, saying, “I believe cinema is a great tool for investigating reality and getting to know the Other despite all stereotypes. We should use it to focus on what unites us rather than on our differences.”
Highlights of the 2025 Atlas Workshops
This year’s selection includes 12 projects in development, with 10 films currently in production or post-production. Among the notable projects are five first Moroccan fiction features in development showcased in the Atlas Close-Ups section and one Moroccan feature nearing completion, seeking its premiere in the Atlas Film Showcase.
Highlighted projects in development feature talents such as Palestinian director Scandar Copti, who received last year’s Étoile d’Or for "Happy Holidays," and Lebanese filmmaker Mounia Akl, known for her film "Costa Brava, Lebanon." Notable mentions also include Jordan’s Amjad Al Rasheed and his second feature, "Under Her Eye."
In the shooting and post-production category, the documentary "Don’t Let The Sun Go Up On Me" by Asmae El Moudir stands out. El Moudir made history at the festival in 2023 as the first Moroccan director to win the Étoile d’Or for her film "The Mother of All Lies." The line-up also features "Wolves," an eagerly awaited bank heist drama by Lebanese director Rami Kodeih.
Additionally, the Atlas Station 2025 sidebar aims to nurture emerging talent in Moroccan cinema, supporting seven up-and-coming Moroccan filmmakers and four short films.
2025 Selection Overview
Projects in Development:
- AKAL – Basma Rkioui (Morocco) | 1st feature documentary
- CHAPA 100 – Ique Langa (Mozambique) | 2nd fiction feature
- CHENTIAN – Suha Arraf (Palestine) | 2nd fiction feature
- A CHILDHOOD – Scandar Copti (Palestine) | 3rd feature documentary
- LES DIEUX DÉLINQUANTS – Boubacar Sangaré (Burkina Faso) | 1st fiction feature
- HOLD ME (IF YOU WANT) – Mounia Akl (Lebanon) | 2nd fiction feature
- LAST COW – Amil Shivji (Tanzania) | 2nd fiction feature
- THE MARCHES – Vatche Boulghourjian (Lebanon) | 2nd fiction feature
- SIMÉON IDRISS – Zineb Wakrim (Morocco) | 1st fiction feature
- UNDER GREEN SKIES – Jad Chahine (Egypt) | 1st fiction feature
- UNDER HER EYE – Amjad Al Rasheed (Jordan) | 2nd fiction feature
- VANDA – Kamy Lara (Angola) | 1st fiction feature
Films Shooting or In Development:
- DON’T LET THE SUN GO UP ON ME – Asmae El Moudir (Morocco) | 2nd feature documentary
- GOMA ENOUGH IS ENOUGH – Elisé Sawasawa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) | 1st feature documentary
- GREY GLOW – Michèle Tyan (Lebanon) | 1st fiction feature
- LA MÁS DULCE – Laïla Marrakchi (Morocco) | 3rd fiction feature
- ORIENT ADAGIO – Maha Haj (Palestine) | 3rd fiction feature
- SAFE EXIT – Mohammed Hammad (Egypt) | 2nd fiction feature
- THE STATION – Sara Ishaq (Yemen) | 1st fiction feature
- TRIP TO JERUSALEM – Michel Zarazir and Gaby Zarazir (Lebanon) | 1st fiction feature
- VAGABONDS – Amartei Armar (Ghana) | 1st fiction feature
- WOLVES – Rami Kodeih (Lebanon) | 1st fiction feature
Atlas Film Showcase:
- EARTH AND ASHES – Leyna Tahiri (Morocco) | 1st fiction feature
- INTO THE BLUE NIGHT – Halima Elkhatabi (Morocco) | 1st fiction feature
- REMONTADA – Reda Lahmouid (Morocco) | 1st fiction feature
- THE TANJAWI – Zahoua Raji & Ayoub Layoussifi (Morocco) | 1st fiction feature
- TODAY, I AM 25 YEARS OLD – Shaden Safieddine Tazi (Morocco) | 1st fiction feature
- UNTIL DAWN – Mohamed Zineddaine (Morocco) | fiction feature
Atlas Station Participants and Short Films:
Participants include Lamia Bengelloun, Kenza Berrada Amor, Ines Lehaire, Linda Qibaa, Zainab Rabbaa, Fadila Taha, and Oumayma Zekri Ajarrai.
Short Films in Post-Production:
- BARZAKH – Kenza Tazi (Morocco) | 2nd short fiction film
- THE BRIDE OF THE RAIN – Driss Ouaamar (Morocco) | 1st short animated film
- DESERTED STREETS – Batoul Benazzou (Morocco) | 1st short fiction film
- MESK ELLIL – Adnane Rami (Morocco) | 3rd short fiction film
Stay tuned for more updates as the Marrakech International Film Festival prepares to spotlight emerging talent and celebrate the art of cinema in 2025!
