Festival International du Film Transsaharien de Zagora (20)

Festival start: 06 December 2026      Festival end: 11 December 2026

The Zagora International Trans-Saharan Film Festival is a cinematic and cultural event located in the heart of a region rich in history, memory, and openness. Born in a space where Saharan culture naturally dialogues with the African, Arab, and Mediterranean imagination, the festival aims to be a platform for meeting, discovery, and exchange around cinema.

Through its programming, competitions, tributes, workshops, and professional meetings, the Festival seeks to bring cinematic works closer to the public, support creators, promote cultural expressions originating from Saharan regions, and strengthen ties between the cinemas of Morocco, Africa, the Arab world, and the rest of the world.

These rules define the general conditions for participation, selection, and screening of films within the Zagora International Trans-Saharan Film Festival.

The festival may award several prizes within the framework of its official competitions.

For the feature film competition, prizes may include:

Grand Prize of the Zagora International Trans-Saharan Film Festival.
Jury Prize.
Best Director Award.
Best Actress Award.
Best Actor Award.

For the short film competition, prizes may include:

Best Short Film Award.
Special Jury Prize.
Best Director Award.

Other distinctions may be created by the organization according to the artistic direction of each edition.

Article 1: Organization

The Zagora International Trans-Saharan Film Festival is organized by the festival's host association, in partnership with public institutions, local authorities, cultural bodies, and relevant partners.

The 20th edition of the festival will take place in Zagora from December 06 to 11, 2026.


Article 2: Official Program

The official program of the festival includes the following sections:

Official Feature Film Competition.

Official Short Film Competition.

Panorama screenings dedicated to Moroccan, African, Arab, and international cinema.

Special screenings on Saharan cinema, heritage, memory, and nomadic cultures.

Tributes to figures from cinema, culture, and the arts.

Training workshops in filmmaking professions.
Lectures, professional meetings, debates, and round tables.

Parallel cultural and artistic activities linked to the identity of the region and the trans-Saharan spirit of the Festival.


Article 3: Eligibility Conditions

Fiction, documentary films, or creative cinematic works that meet the criteria set by the organization can be submitted.

Proposed films must present an artistic, cultural, or human interest, and can address themes related to society, memory, regions, cultures, migration, the environment, intercultural dialogue, or any other contemporary issue.

The Festival pays special attention to works from Morocco, Africa, the Arab world, and Saharan spaces, while remaining open to international cinema.


Article 4: Screening Formats

Selected films must be submitted in a technical format suitable for professional screening..

Accepted formats may include:

DCP.
High-definition digital file.
Blu-ray.
Hard drive or secure download link, in accordance with the technical requirements communicated by the organization..
The Festival reserves the right to reject any copy that does not meet the technical standards required for a quality screening..


Article 5: Production Dates

For the official competitions, submitted films must have been shot in 2025 and 2026.

Films that have already been widely exploited commercially or shown in certain national competitions may be subject to a special evaluation by the selection committee.

The organization reserves the right to adapt these conditions according to the nature of the programmed sections.


Article 6: Film duration

The duration of feature films must be at least 70 minutes.

Short films must adhere to the maximum duration of 25 minutes.


Article 7: Film Selection

Film selection is exclusively subject to the Selection Committee and the permanent secretariat of the festival.

The committee's decisions are sovereign and not subject to appeal.

The selection of a film implies authorization for its screening within the framework of the Festival, in accordance with the schedule and conditions specified by the organization.


Article 8: language and subtitles

Films must be screened in their original version.

Films whose original language is not French or Arabic must be, as far as possible, subtitled in French, Arabic, or english.

The organization may request separate subtitle files to facilitate screening and accessibility of the works..


Article 9: Registration

Registration in the festival must be completed within the specified deadlines: deadline for registration is August 15, 2026.

The registration file must include:

Complete technical sheet of the film.
Short synopsis, and if possible, long synopsis.
Biography and filmography of the director.
Photo of the director.
High-resolution film stills.
Film poster, if available.
Secure screening link.
Any additional useful information for selection, communication, or the festival catalog.
Any incomplete file may not be taken into consideration.


Article 10: Juries

Juries for the official competitions are composed of prominent figures from the fields of cinema, culture, arts, and media.

No member of the jury may be directly involved in the production, direction, or distribution of a film shown in the competition they are invited to judge.

Jury decisions are final..


Article 11: prizes

The festival may award several prizes within the framework of its official competitions.

For the feature film competition, prizes may include:

Grand Prize of the Zagora International Trans-Saharan Film Festival.
Jury Prize.
Best Director Award.
Best Actress Award.
Best Actor Award.

For the short film competition, prizes may include:

Best Short Film Award.
Special Jury Prize.
Best Director Award.
Other distinctions may be created by the organization according to the artistic direction of each edition..


Article 12: Copies of Selected Films

After confirmation of selection, the rights holders must send the final copy of the film within the deadlines communicated by the organization.

The copy must be accompanied by all the necessary elements for screening, communication, and catalog preparation.

Any delay in sending the required elements may lead to the withdrawal of the film from the programming.


Article 13: Transport and Submission of Copies

Methods for submitting physical or digital copies are determined by the organization after selection.

When physical copies are necessary, the conditions of transport, receipt, and return are determined by mutual agreement between the festival and the rights holders.

The Festival cannot be held responsible for delays or incidents related to shipments that do not comply with the instructions provided.


Article 14: Liability

The Festival undertakes to take care of the copies received and to use them exclusively within the framework of the screenings and activities related to the edition concerned.

In the event of loss or damage of a physical copy after its official receipt, the potential liability of the festival is limited to the value declared by the producer or the rights holder.


Article 15: Communication and Promotion

Participation in the Festival authorizes the organization to use short clips, photos, posters, biographies, and information related to the selected films for communication, promotion, press, catalog, website, and social media networks.

This use remains exclusively linked to the promotion of the festival and the selected works.


Article 16: Cases not covered

Any situation not covered by these rules will be studied and decided upon by the permanent secretariat of the festival.

Decisions taken in this framework aim to preserve the smooth running of the festival, respect for works, and fairness among participants.


Article 17: Correspondence

Any correspondence regarding registrations, selected films, copies, communication documents, or administrative matters must be sent to the official address of the Zagora International Trans-Saharan Film Festival.

Contact information will be communicated through the festival's official media.


Article 18: Acceptance of Rules

Registering a film in the Zagora International Trans-Saharan Film Festival implies full and unconditional acceptance of these rules.

The producer, director, or any legal representative of the registered film declares that they hold the necessary rights to screen the work within the framework of the festival.