Strong Moroccan Cinema Presence at the 2026 Cotonou Film and Digital Encounters (CCM)

Rabat – Moroccan cinema is making a strong showing at the 2026 Cotonou Film and Digital Encounters, held from October 3 to 10. This event fosters exchanges between different cinematic experiences and opens new avenues for cultural and artistic cooperation.

The event, marked by the presence of the Moroccan Ambassador to Benin, Rachid Rguibi, includes a Moroccan delegation composed of actor and director Abderrahim Meniari, director Bilal Touil, and the CCM representative, Hamza Andaloussi Ben Brahim, according to a press release from the Moroccan Cinema Center (CCM).

This participation combines artistic expertise with institutional representation, allowing for the promotion of Moroccan cinema and exchanges with Beninese professionals and other participants, the same source indicates.

On this occasion, the Director of the Moroccan Cinema Center, in a speech delivered on his behalf by the CCM representative, emphasized the importance of this participation for strengthening film cooperation between Morocco and Benin, reaffirming the commitment to developing exchanges of experience, training, film distribution, and co-productions.

These areas can form the basis for concrete partnerships that meet the aspirations of professionals and contribute to the development of the film industry in both countries, he stated, as quoted in the press release.

He also indicated that this approach aligns with the Kingdom’s deep connection to Africa and with the South-South cooperation policy championed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI for a united, dynamic, and prosperous Africa, where cultural creation serves as a catalyst for development and reconciliation.

The Moroccan presence is strengthened by the selection of several works in the various categories of the Rencontres, notably “Hayat” by Bilal Touil, “3 Cities 3 Films” by Jamal El Gouji, “Ahlam Bela Ajneha” by Bouchta Ezziani, “Goundafa” by Ali Benjelloun, and “Carved by the Wind” by Layla Triqui—a selection that reflects the diversity of Moroccan experiences in the fields of fiction, documentary, and student films.

Moroccan participation in these Rencontres benefits from the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Benin, illustrating the role of cultural diplomacy in fostering closer ties between peoples and developing exchanges between institutions and creators.

Cotonou, the economic capital of the Republic of Benin, thus hosts a festival combining cinema and digital media, providing an opportunity for discussions on creative possibilities, production, and audience access.

The Moroccan presence demonstrates the desire to strengthen the openness of national cinema to its African environment, to build bridges of cooperation and to broaden the circulation of cinematographic works, the statement concludes.