The Zagora International Film Festival was born from a deep desire to create a genuine space for cultural exchange, allowing filmmakers from all over the world to immerse themselves in the Saharan and Amazigh cultures—a living, multidimensional culture that spans cinema, music, the arts of daily life, local cuisine, communal spirit, nature, and values of generosity and hospitality.
Arriving in Zagora is a unique experience for directors and guests, where the encounter goes beyond film screenings to include direct human and cultural interaction with the place and its people, in a context that respects local traditions while celebrating diversity.
The festival covers accommodation, meals, and local transportation within Zagora for all participants, ensuring that filmmakers can fully immerse themselves in the cultural and cinematic experience without logistical concerns."
During the festival, daily excursions are organized to explore the region’s historical and cultural landmarks, including Tamegroute, the Amezrou Kasbah, and the historic Koranic Library, enhancing visitors’ understanding of the rich cultural context the city embodies.
The festival consists of two official sections:
Documentary Competition
Short Film Competition (maximum 15 minutes)
An independent jury is appointed for each category, composed of cinematic and cultural figures, ensuring fair and specialized evaluation for every type of film.
Screenings take place inside the cultural center of Zagora, in addition to open-air screenings in the desert on a large, specially prepared screen. This unique visual and human experience blends cinema with the desert environment, offering both the audience and guests an exceptional moment of film viewing beyond traditional theaters.
In Zagora, cinema becomes a true bridge for dialogue—a space where contemporary creativity meets living heritage, and where images connect with people and place. Participating in this festival is not merely a professional milestone, but a complete cultural and aesthetic experience that leaves a lasting impact on memory and imagination, giving films a human dimension that transcends the screen.
The festival invites all filmmakers and cineastes to embark on this artistic adventure in the heart of the desert, where stories are born from silence and cinema is told through the language of the land, light, and human presence.
