Atlas Workshops (Marrakech International Film Festival)

Overview

The Atlas Workshops is the industry and talent development platform of the Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM), launched in 2018 to support a new generation of Moroccan, Arab, and African filmmakers. The program runs for five days during the festival (late November to early December) and selects approximately 28 projects and films in development, production, or post-production from over 320 applications received annually across the African continent and the Arab world.

Selected filmmakers receive one-on-one consultations with international industry experts, group work sessions covering scriptwriting, editing, financing, production strategy, distribution, and sales, and access to tailored mentorship. The program distributes more than EUR 100,000 in cash prizes across development and post-production categories, making it one of the most financially significant industry programs in the Arab and African regions.

The 8th edition took place from November 30 to December 4, 2025, with Romanian director Cristian Mungiu (Palme d'Or winner for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days) serving as patron. The 9th edition is scheduled for November 22 to 26, 2026. There is no entry fee to apply.

Program Structure

The Atlas Workshops operates through several distinct modules:

• Projects in Development - first and second feature films (fiction, documentary, animation) from Arab and African filmmakers, receiving mentorship and eligible for Atlas Development Awards
• Films in Production or Post-Production - completed or near-completed features receiving post-production support and eligible for Atlas Post-Production Awards
• Atlas Close-Ups - Moroccan projects in development, providing a dedicated platform for emerging national talent
• Atlas Film Showcase - screenings of completed films by Moroccan and regional filmmakers
• Atlas Station - a professional development program for young Moroccan producers and directors, with 7 professionals and 4 short films in post-production selected for the 2025 edition
• Atlas Distribution Awards - a distribution support scheme for Morocco and the Arab and African nations, accompanied by industry discussions for regional distributors

What Filmmakers Should Know

Eligibility

The Atlas Workshops accepts applications from filmmakers based in or originating from Morocco, the Arab world, and Africa. Projects must be first or second feature films (fiction, documentary, or animation). Both projects in development and films in production or post-production are eligible. Applications are submitted through the Atlas Workshops online portal.

Selection Volume

The 2025 edition selected 28 projects and films from over 320 applications. The 2024 edition selected 27 projects from 320 applications. The acceptance rate is approximately 8 to 9 percent, making this a competitive program.

Prize Money (2025 Edition)

The Atlas Workshops distributes cash prizes in two categories:

Atlas Development Awards:

• First prize: EUR 30,000 (awarded to Chapa 100 by Ique Langa, Mozambique)
• Second prize: EUR 20,000 (awarded to Les Dieux Delinquants by Boubacar Sangare, Burkina Faso)
• Two prizes of EUR 5,000 each (awarded to A Childhood by Scandar Copti, Palestine, and Vanda by Kamy Lara, Angola)

Atlas Post-Production Awards:

• Two prizes of EUR 20,000 each (awarded to Don't Let the Sun Go Up on Me by Asmae El Moudir, Morocco, and La Mas Dulce by Laila Marrakchi, Morocco)
• Two prizes of EUR 10,000 each (awarded to Goma Enough Is Enough by Elise Sawasawa, DRC, and Safe Exit by Mohammed Hammad, Egypt)

Notable Selected Filmmakers

The 2025 selection included new projects from Asmae El Moudir (whose The Mother of All Lies won Best Documentary at Cannes and the Etoile d'Or at Marrakech), Mounia Akl (whose Costa Brava, Lebanon won awards at Toronto and London), and Amjad Al Rasheed (whose Inshallah a Boy won awards at Cannes, Rotterdam, and Camerimage).

Mentorship and Consulting

The 2025 edition invited 31 consultants and experts alongside 3 acting mentors. Topics covered include scriptwriting, editing, financing, production strategy, film scoring, poster design, distribution, and international sales. Each project receives tailored support based on its current stage of production.

Industry Context

The Atlas Workshops fills a specific gap in the Arab and African film industry: the lack of structured development and post-production support for first and second feature filmmakers. While programs like the Sundance Labs, the Berlinale Talents, and the Cannes Residence exist, they are not specifically designed for filmmakers from the MENA and African regions. The Atlas Workshops provides a regional equivalent with international-caliber mentorship.

The program also serves as a networking bridge. Selected filmmakers gain access to the full Marrakech International Film Festival industry activities, including screenings, market events, and meetings with international sales agents, distributors, and festival programmers who attend the festival. The Atlas Distribution Awards specifically address the distribution bottleneck in the region by providing funds for theatrical release in Morocco and partner territories.

History

The Atlas Workshops was launched in 2018 as part of the Marrakech International Film Festival's broader strategy to build infrastructure for Arab and African cinema. The program has grown from an initial cohort to its current scale of 28 selected projects, 31 consultants, and over EUR 100,000 in prize money. Past patrons include Jeff Nichols (2024) and Cristian Mungiu (2025).

The introduction of Atlas Station in 2024, with its first cohort of 10 Moroccan talents, reflected the festival's commitment to developing the domestic Moroccan film industry alongside its regional mission. By 2025, Atlas Station expanded to support 7 Moroccan professionals and 4 short films in post-production.

Submission Process

Applications are submitted through the Atlas Workshops online portal. The submission timeline typically opens several months before the festival, with deadlines in early fall. There is no entry fee. Applicants must provide project details, a director's statement, supporting materials (script, treatment, or rough cut depending on the stage), and a streaming link for films in post-production.

For the 2026 edition (November 22 to 26), monitor the official Atlas Workshops website for submission dates and eligibility updates.

See Also

For the parent festival, see Marrakech International Film Festival. For festival circuit planning and submission strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. For understanding Arab and African film markets, see International Film Markets. To calculate the return on investment for festival submissions, use the Festival Entry Fee ROI Calculator.