Tangier Film Festival Unveils International Line-up for 15th Edition, with Farah El Fassi Set for Special Tribute

Tangier is gearing up to welcome the 15th edition of the Tangier Film Festival, taking place from November 11 to 14, 2026, with an international programme bringing together filmmakers and productions from across the globe. The event is organised in partnership with the Moroccan Cinematographic Center, the Tangier Wilaya, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, the Tangier City Council and Hotel El Minzah, as part of efforts to promote cultural exchange and further strengthen the city’s standing on Morocco’s cinematic map.
Ahead of the event, festival organisers have announced the films selected for its three international competitions, covering short fiction, documentary and feature-length cinema. The programme reflects a broad geographical and artistic diversity, while Moroccan actress Farah El Fassi has been named as the recipient of this year’s opening ceremony tribute.
The selection brings together filmmakers from different cultural backgrounds and cinematic traditions, offering audiences a wide-ranging programme that explores contemporary human experiences, social realities and cultural questions. Through this international gathering, Tangier seeks to reinforce its role as a platform for cinematic dialogue, creative exchange and the discovery of emerging and established filmmaking voices.
Short Film Competition Brings Together 20 Productions from 19 Countries
The international short fiction competition features 20 films representing 19 countries, offering a snapshot of the diversity of contemporary short-form filmmaking and its evolving artistic languages.
The participating countries include Spain, the United Kingdom, Palestine, France, Brazil, Egypt, South Africa, Portugal, Uruguay, Finland, Greece, Sweden, Ireland, Kuwait, Bangladesh, China, Russia, Haiti and Morocco.
Among the selected productions are Spain’s There Is a God Within Us, directed by Olivia Ramirez, and the British entry The Healer, by Will Joel. Palestine will be represented by Tawfik Barhom’s I’m Glad You’re Dead Now, while France enters the competition with Pale Sun, directed by Adrien Dolan and Jawhan Zentar. Brazil will participate with Alien, by Dikele Berenson.
Egypt has secured two places in the selection with Zizo, directed by Khaled Moait, and Stuck, by Bahi Taha. Other entries include South Africa’s Eagles, by Dian W.S.; Portugal’s Prayer, directed by Sofia Giveler; and Uruguay’s Good Manners, by Lulu Carmila.
The programme also features the Finnish-Greek production All the Love in My Body, directed by Carmen Baltazar, Sweden’s 175, by Sibehr Nosrati, and Ireland’s Mary Missing, directed by Aisling Byrne. Kuwait will be represented by Your Excellency, by Musaad Al-Qudaifi, while Greece will also compete with The Last Tropical Orbits, directed by Thanasis Trouboukis.
Asian cinema will be represented by Bangladesh’s Ali, directed by Adnan Al Rajeev, and China’s Hippopotamus, by JJ Lin. The Russian entry is Rebound, directed by Dmitry Marin, while Haiti will participate with Blue Heart, by Samuel Souffrin. Morocco completes the line-up with The Shadow of Caravaggio.
Festival organisers highlighted the work of the selection committee, stressing that the chosen films reflect a wide range of creative approaches and provide audiences with an opportunity to engage with different cinematic cultures and artistic sensibilities.
Documentary Competition Explores Diverse Human and Cultural Realities
A total of 13 productions have been selected for the international documentary competition, bringing together filmmakers whose works examine a broad spectrum of human, social, environmental and cultural concerns.
The line-up includes Lake of Orphans, by Salem Bilal; No Life on Mars, directed by Mohamed Chawki; and Notes from the Third Planet, by Simon Ellis. Also selected is Hair, Paper, Water…, a collaborative production directed by Nicolas Grousset and Minh Quý Trương, alongside To the West, in Zapata, by David Pimm, and Sons of the Desert, by Thijs Borsten.
The Palestinian documentary Free Fish, directed by Bisan Owda, and the Moroccan production Men of God, by Ikram Azfoud, are among the notable entries. The competition further includes I Wish I Could Hear Your Voice, by James Bellirito, and 52 Machines, co-directed by Gregorio Sassoli and Alejandro Cifuentes.
Completing the selection are The Well Keeper, by Bentley Brown and Taher Ben Mohamed Zein; Mille Qaroun, directed by Mohannad Diab; and Ain Al-Sbeen, by Mohamed Hilal.
The documentary jury brings together three professionals from different creative backgrounds: Moroccan producer Abdel Salam El Meftahi, Qatari producer Abdulrahman Al Mannaï, and poet and writer Ikram Abdi. Their combined experience in filmmaking, production and literature is expected to bring a range of perspectives to the assessment of the competing works.
Six Feature Films Represent Five Countries
The international feature film competition will showcase six fiction productions from Russia, Sudan, Malaysia, China, Morocco and Tunisia, highlighting different cinematic approaches and storytelling traditions.
Russia enters the competition with Her Cold Heart, directed by Vladimir Kott, while Sudan will be represented by Suzannah Mirghani’s Cotton Queen. The Malaysian-Chinese contribution comes in the form of Where the Sun Shines Bright, directed by Lam Kan-chau.
Morocco will have two films in the running: The Aints, directed by Yassine Fennane, and Mira, by established filmmaker Nour-Eddine Lakhmari. Tunisia completes the selection with Round 13, directed by Mohamed Ali Nahdi.
The feature film jury includes Moroccan producer Zine El Abidine Charaf Eddine, who also heads the Dakhla International Festival; Portuguese producer Frederico Serra; Omani director Mohamed Al Ajmi; and Moroccan screenwriter and journalist Saïd Nafea. The panel brings together expertise spanning film production, directing and screenwriting.
Festival to Honour Moroccan Actress Farah El Fassi
Beyond its competitive programme, the festival will pay tribute to Moroccan actress Farah El Fassi during the opening ceremony on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at the Ahmed Boukmakh Cultural Complex in Tangier.
The recognition celebrates her contribution to Moroccan cinema and television, as well as a career marked by her versatility and ability to take on a wide range of dramatic roles. Her performances have covered social drama, comedy and historical productions, allowing her to build a strong connection with Moroccan and Arab audiences.
Through her participation in numerous television and film projects, El Fassi has established herself as one of the notable female performers in Morocco’s contemporary artistic landscape. Her involvement in cultural and cinematic events has also helped bring greater visibility to Moroccan film productions beyond the national stage.
The tribute forms part of the festival’s longstanding commitment to recognising artists whose work has contributed to the development and enrichment of Morocco’s film and television industries.
Tangier Strengthens Its Position as an International Cinematic Meeting Point
The 15th edition of the Tangier Film Festival aims to build on the city’s growing cultural and cinematic profile by bringing together a diverse selection of international productions, experienced jury members and prominent artistic figures.
By giving equal attention to short fiction, documentary and feature-length cinema, the festival seeks to provide a platform for different forms of cinematic expression while encouraging dialogue and collaboration among Moroccan and international filmmakers.
The event also reflects Tangier’s ambition to strengthen its role as a crossroads of cultures and creative experiences, offering a space where filmmakers, producers and audiences can connect, exchange ideas and explore new perspectives through cinema.