Atlas Workshops 2025: How a Marrakech Initiative is Reshaping Arab and African Cinema
MARRAKECH – What began as a niche platform for regional filmmakers in 2018 has evolved into a powerhouse of global cinematic deal-making. The eighth edition of the Atlas Workshops, held from November 30 to December 4, 2025, concluded not just with a slate of awards but with compelling evidence of a structural shift in where and how films get made.
According to a report from Sahara Medias, this year’s iteration was the largest yet, hosting 350 international professionals and 28 projects and films from 12 countries. The numbers tell a story of explosive growth: over 185 expert consultation sessions and a staggering 525 individual meetings in the co-production market—the highest tally in the workshop’s history.
Beyond Funding: Building an Ecosystem
The Atlas Workshops were founded with a clear mandate: to support Arab and African projects in development and post-production. The metric of success, however, has moved beyond simple grant-giving. Analysis of the program’s eight-year track record reveals its role as an ecosystem engineer. To date, it has supported 179 projects and films, including 68 Moroccan works. Crucially, a significant number have progressed to premiere at Cannes, Berlin, and Locarno.
“This isn’t just a workshop; it’s a pipeline,” says a film industry analyst familiar with the region. “By connecting emerging talent with heavyweight European institutions like Arte France and the BFI at the development stage, Atlas is systematically derisking projects for international financiers and sales agents. It’s creating a recognizable ‘stamp’ of quality and viability.”
2025 Awards: A Map of Cinematic Currents
The 2025 award winners provide a snapshot of the currents shaping contemporary cinema from the region. The post-production awards, judged by a panel including Venice Film Festival’s Beatrice Fiorentino, recognized a blend of established and new voices:
- “Solar Image” by Asmaa El Meddir (Morocco) & “La Más Dulce” by Leila Marrakchi (Morocco) shared a €20,000 prize, highlighting Morocco’s mature production infrastructure.
- “Goma… Enough Is Enough” by Elisé Swasawa (DR Congo) and “Safe Exit” by Mohamed Hamad (Egypt) each won €10,000, underscoring strong national narratives gaining international co-production support.
More telling were the development awards, judged by figures including Olivier Père of Arte France. The winners, receiving grants from €5,000 to €30,000, trace a map of rising cinematic frontiers:
- “Chapa 100” (Mozambique) – €30,000
- “Les Dieux Délinquants” (Burkina Faso) – €20,000
- “Childhood” (Palestine) & “Vanda” (Angola) – €5,000 each
The Sub-Saharan Surge and Strategic Partnerships
A key trend identified in the Sahara Medias report is the “notable presence of sub-Saharan African projects.” The success of filmmakers from Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Angola, and the DRC signals the workshops’ expanding geographic and cultural reach. This is not a zero-sum game; it coincides with continued strong Moroccan participation, suggesting the platform is becoming a true continental hub rather than a national one.
The production credits of winning films—noting French, Spanish, and Moroccan co-productions—illustrate the practical outcome of those 525 market meetings. These are not just grants; they are the seeds of formal, financial partnerships that distribute risk and expand distribution networks.
The ‘So What’: Redrawing the Global Production Map
The significance of the Atlas Workshops’ growth transcends the Marrakech festival. It represents a deliberate and successful effort to decentralize cinematic development. For decades, aspiring filmmakers from these regions often had to travel to European hubs for such high-caliber networking and mentorship. Now, that hub exists within the region itself.
This shift has tangible effects. It allows stories to be developed in a context-sensitive environment, surrounded by peers and mentors who understand their cultural and logistical landscapes. It also builds regional confidence and creates a sustainable professional community that persists year-round.
As the Sahara Medias analysis concludes, the workshops have become “a genuine bridge connecting Arab and African talents with broader production and distribution horizons.” In an industry where connections are currency, the Atlas Workshops are minting a new kind of capital, one that promises to alter the credits—and the very narratives—of world cinema for years to come.
Primary source for factual reporting: Sahara Medias – “Atlas Workshops in Its Eighth Edition…”