Screening of the feature film “The Escapees of Tindouf,” directed by Abdelhak Najib

Casablanca – The feature film “The Escapees of Tindouf,” directed by Abdelhak Najib, premiered Monday evening in Casablanca before an audience of public figures, artists, and media professionals, ahead of its national theatrical release scheduled for November 4.

The screening was attended by, among others, the Minister of Industry, Trade, Investment, and Economic Inclusion, Ryad Mezzour; the Governor of the Casablanca-Anfa district, Abdelkhaleq Merzouki; the Governor in charge of General Affairs for the Casablanca prefecture, Omar Filal; and the President of the Casablanca City Council, Nabila Rmili.

Screened to commemorate the anniversaries of Unity Day and the Glorious Green March, “The Escapees of Tindouf” tells the story of Moroccans who, after years of captivity in the Tindouf camps, risked everything to regain their freedom and return to their country.

Inspired by testimonies collected by Abdelhak Najib and adapted from his book “A Shadow on the Sand,” the film retraces their escape and their journey across the desert. Hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and extreme conditions mark this journey, guided by a single hope: to return to Morocco. A story of courage and resistance, it reveals the price of freedom and the strength of the bond to one’s homeland.

Running for 90 minutes, the film is structured around three periods: 1974, the year the protagonists were captured; 2000, the year of their escape; and the present day. This final section follows the son of one of the escapees, who sets out to reconstruct his father’s story.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Mezzour emphasized the importance of this film in preserving national memory, noting that cinema is a powerful tool for transmitting the values ​​of patriotism, sacrifice, and patriotism to younger generations.

He believes that such productions contribute to raising awareness of aspects of national history and strengthening collective consciousness around the values ​​of unity and belonging.

For his part, the film’s director, screenwriter, and co-producer, Abdelhak Najib, explained that this project originated from testimonies gathered some twenty years ago from Moroccans who had endured long years of captivity in the Tindouf camps.

He stated that these stories, marked by suffering and courage, deserved to be brought to the screen to pay tribute to these men and to reveal to the public a little-known chapter of their history.

For her part, the film’s producer, Imane Kandili, emphasized the national significance of this production, which recounts unique destinies and highlights the strength of these Moroccans’ will to regain their freedom and return to their country.

She stressed that the decision to bring this story to the screen stems from a desire to raise awareness among the general public, particularly younger generations, about the hardships endured by these men and the sacrifices they made to return to their homeland.

The evening also included a tribute to the late Mohamed Choubi, an actor who appeared in the film and is considered one of the leading figures in the national artistic scene. This tribute was an opportunity to celebrate his career and his contributions to Moroccan theater, television, and cinema.

The film’s cast includes Driss Roukhe, Kamal Haïmoud, Dean Moutaki, Imane Kandili, Alia Bencheikh, Mohamed Simoka and Yassine Abdelkader.