Marrakech was occasionally drying up. Two young women do everything they can to cure her of her lethargy by instigating a demonstration advocating the short film. Meet between late September and early October.

By R. K. Houdaïfa

The sky of Marrakech, usually serene, was tinged intermittently with sorrowful tones, as if it wanted to share the anguish which, perceptibly, gripped many greedy and art lovers.

But anyway, because blessed with such irresistible virtues, the ocher city is “glamorous, elegant, cultured, welcoming and above all, full of allure”, Ramia Beladel likes to say. Woven from the fabric of which dreams are made, the city arouses violent impulses, irrepressible desires and shameful fantasies.

Ramia worships Marrakech – a city teeming with memory, studded with monuments and steeped in art – which borders on obsession. On the attractions of the city, she proves inexhaustible, using heady, alluring, incandescent words, which reflect the fire of her passion. A passion that she would like to share. From this stems the sumptuous idea of ​​putting a film festival into orbit. She had holy fire but lacked precious viatics. She then began to preach the good word until she was lent a sympathetic ear.

It was in large part thanks to Thaïs Martin that what looked like wishful thinking took concrete form. It seemed so fruitful that they thought of converting it into an Out of The Box festival geared towards a short film format; a format to which they unfortunately do not have enough access in Marrakech.

Short Film: Muse of filmmakers

A festival for short films. This should put some balm in the cold hearts of heralds like this who, for many – let’s be frank – is not; a three-part academic trick that ends with a slapstick drop, a pretty cheesy concept. Some are of the opinion that the short has never ceased to exist, if only for industrial reasons: it constitutes the obligatory and almost unique passage to become a feature film director – the famous “visiting card” , the filmmaker’s baccalaureate. In addition, the world of short films is seen by others as a ghetto maintained by old leftists who would have found there a new opportunity to militate for a lost cause – unless it is heard… Quite short , and in view of these clichés spurred on by word of mouth, it is first and foremost an open window on the world, possibly an art.

It is with the aim of creating a bridge between Marrakech and the world of short films, as well as bringing local talents to the fore, while sharing the work of foreign filmmakers, that the two brilliant women, devilishly effective, meet made a point of honor to annually simmer this meeting soberly entitled “Marrakech Short Film Festival”. The goal is to make it a place for Moroccan creativity to flourish, by bringing it face to face with foreign creation.

42 well-made short films, and more than that

In short, for this first act, a very large poster, which puts Egypt in the spotlight, twists crowned names and rising talents with a cheerful selection of foreign films.

Chaired by filmmaker Kamal Hachkar, the jury for this first edition will be composed of Daniele J. Suissa, former director and producer, Marie Courtin, first photoshoot producer for fashion magazines and brands in Marrakech, and Mehdi Sefrioui, fashion photographer , besides actor Tarik Mounim.

Lasting a week in the open air, the festival will host unique private screening venues, notably at Jnane Tamesna and heritage sites in the old district of Laksour.

This is just a glimpse of the spellbinding pleasures offered by the 1st edition of the Marrakech Short Film Festival. The platter is plentiful, with plenty of choice pieces. All these pleasures will be within sight between the end of September and the beginning of October 2021.

Source: fnh.ma