This year’s Rabat Auteur Cinema Film Festival brings Arab stars Mahmoud Abdelaziz and Haifa Wehbe to the Moroccan capital. Twelve films from various countries will compete for honours.

The Rabat film festival draws artists from across the Arab world and beyond.

Wehbe screened her first filmmaking experience – “Doukane Chahata” [Chahata's Shop] at the festival’s opening session on June 21st. She told the press that she was proud of her performance and hoped Moroccan audiences would react favourably.

The Rabat Culture and Arts Festival Association, which organises the event, said it focuses on the quality of the selected works, but that it also seeks to draw large audiences through inviting well-known guests. All the festival’s screenings are free of charge, to encourage audiences back into cinemas.

According to the organisers, the goal of the event is to introduce Moroccan audiences to auteur cinema, which is rarely shown in the country. The festival offers a full programme, with feature films of various genres from the Arab world and beyond.

“This event has become a favourite meeting place for filmmakers and intellectuals, both Arab and international,” said festival director Abdelhak Mantrech.

Mahmoud Abdelaziz said it is important to hold meetings like the Rabat festival in the Arab world, and to encourage young artists and writers.

“You must be careful when judging the efforts of young script writers; young film-makers need time to prove their skills,” he said. “Arab cinema has always seen a certain fruitful exchange between generations, and a great number of famous film-makers had already given the youngsters a chance to show what they were capable of.”

Apart from screenings and debates, the festival programme also includes an official competition to decide which of 12 films are to win festival prizes, particularly the Grand Prix Hassan II for best film, the judges’ prize, the prizes for best actor and actress, best screenplay and the audience prize.

Films such as “Eden is West” by director Costa-Gavras, “Cinecitta” by Youssef Chahine and “Jerichow” by Christian Petzold will be competing for the prizes.

Moroccan cinema is also in the spotlight, with submissions like “Casa Negra” by Noureddine Lakhmari, “Itto Titrit” by Mohamed Abbazi, and “Time of Comrades” by Mohamed Chrif Tribek, among others.

Public reaction to the festival has been largely favourable, but some fear there isn’t enough media attention to draw in large audiences.

“I think the festival goes unnoticed,” said art teacher Ahmed Bdraoui. “There are a lot of people living in the capital who are unaware it is going on, and so the festival doesn’t achieve its goal of mobilising Moroccan film-goers.”

Selma Nadiri, a public sector worker, disagrees. She thinks the festival is aimed at an enlightened audience, since it is based around art house film: “Those who are interested crowd into the cinemas which have been booked by the organisers. Those who don’t appreciate auteur cinema films and documentaries have little interest in the event. But this is a good initiative, and I look forward to taking my children there every year.”

By Siham Ali for Magharebia in Rabat