jury 2026
Jalila Talemsi
Actress
Jalila Talemsi is a Moroccan actress and graduate of the Higher Institute of Dramatic Art and Cultural Animation (ISADAC), recognized for her work across theatre, cinema, and television. In 2021, she earned a Master’s degree in Aesthetic Education and Management of Arts and Cultural Professions from the Faculty of Education Sciences in Rabat. She is currently pursuing a PhD at Ibn Tofail University in Kenitra. She began her film career in 2012 with *Androman – Blood and Coal*, a performance that earned her several Best Actress awards, including at the National Film Festival of Tangier, the Alexandria International Film Festival, the Maghreb Film Festival in Algiers, and the Pan African Film Festival in Cannes. Among her notable performances is the Franco-Moroccan film *Nomades* (2018), for which she received the Best Actress Award at the Alexandria International Film Festival. She was also acclaimed for her performance in *Goldfishes* (*Poissons Rouges*, 2022), receiving Best Actress awards at both the National Film Festival of Tangier and the Mediterranean Film Festival of Tetouan. Her filmography includes *Queens*, *Goldfishes*, *Saga*, *Starve Your Dog*, *Les Femmes du Pavillon J*, *Coup de Tampon*, and *Everybody Loves Touda*. In 2023, she also appeared in the Indian web series *The Freelancer*, released on Disney+ Hotstar. With a career spanning stage and screen, Talemsi has established herself as a distinctive voice in contemporary Moroccan acting, combining artistic practice with academic research in arts, culture, and aesthetic education.
hicham ibrahimi
actor, director and theatre educator
A Moroccan actor, director and theatre educator, he is a graduate of the Higher Institute of Dramatic Art and Cultural Animation (ISADAC), specializing in acting. With a career spanning more than three decades, he has contributed to over 60 Moroccan and international productions across cinema, television and theatre. A pioneer of improvisational theatre in Morocco, he founded the Moroccan Improvisation League in 1998 and has taught acting and improvisation for many years, notably within the Ministry of Culture’s theatre training programme in Rabat. As an actor, he has appeared in major Moroccan films including Nabil Ayouch’s *Ali Zaoua*, Jilali Ferhati’s *Tresses* and *Chevaux de Fortune*, as well as numerous international productions alongside figures such as Catherine Deneuve, Gérard Depardieu, Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassel and Tommy Lee Jones. As a filmmaker, he has written and directed several short films and documentaries, including *Electrochoc* (2018), *Mort et Vie* (2019), *Awal Qalam* (2021) and *Amarz* (2024). His work combines extensive experience in performance, directing, education and cultural programming, making him a longstanding figure in Morocco’s theatre and film landscape.
Rachid El Ouali
Actor, Director and Screenwriter
Rachid El Ouali is one of Morocco’s most prominent actors, directors and screenwriters, with a career spanning four decades across cinema and television. He rose to national recognition with Hakim Nouri’s Voleur de Rêves, earning a Best Actor award at the National Film Festival in Tangier in 1995. In 2004, El Ouali expanded his career into filmmaking, directing his first short film, Nini Ya Moumou, before founding his production company, Claproduction, in 2005. He went on to direct several award-winning shorts, including L’Aube, La Mouche et Moi and Le Défunt. His first feature film as a director, Ymma, was released in Morocco in 2013 and received several national and international distinctions. His subsequent directing work includes Nouhe Ne Sait Pas Nager, Nhar L’Aid, the television series Nass El Houma and Kissariat Oufela, as well as Coup de Tampon, which he co-wrote with Hicham Lasri. Alongside his artistic career, El Ouali is known for his social and humanitarian engagement and was appointed a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador in 2004.
International Jury
Tûba Büyüküstün
actress and artist
Tûba Büyüküstün is an internationally acclaimed Turkish actress and artist. Born in Istanbul, she studied Stage and Costume Design at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, graduating in 2004 before beginning her acting career the same year. In 2005, she received the Best Actress Award at the Serbia and Montenegro International TV Festival for her leading performance in Gülizar. Throughout her career, she has received numerous distinctions, including a nomination for Best Actress at the 42nd International Emmy Awards in 2014 for her performance in the series 20 Dakika. Her performances and memorable characters have reached audiences around the world, establishing her as one of Türkiye’s most internationally recognized screen talents. Beyond acting, Büyüküstün has been actively involved in humanitarian initiatives and has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2014, advocating for children’s rights. Her creative practice also extends beyond the screen to other artistic disciplines, particularly visual arts and painting.
Daniela Stephan
Writer-Director
Daniela Stephan is a Lebanese writer-director based between London and Beirut. Having grown up in Lebanon, she is particularly drawn to coming-of-age stories and to exploring how political events shape intimate lives. Her work examines the tension between personal desires and broader historical realities. Her latest short film, *The Sun Sets on Beirut* (2022), screened internationally at festivals including the Oscar-qualifying Tampere Film Festival, Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, and the Marché du Film in Cannes. The film is also featured on *Short of the Week*. Her previous short, *MummyBlue* (2019), screened internationally and received several awards. Daniela is currently developing her debut feature film, *Underbelly*, a coming-of-age story set in Beirut in the months leading up to the 2006 war. The project participated in the Red Sea Lodge 2026 and has been shortlisted for TorinoFilmLab and the BFI Feature Film Fund. Alongside her feature, she is developing *Jellyfish*, a short film set during the recent war in Lebanon, produced by Road2Films and Les Films de l’Altaï. The project was developed through the Doha Film Institute Short Film Lab and shortlisted for the CNC’s *Aide avant réalisation*. Through her filmmaking, Daniela continues to explore memory, identity, youth, and the intimate impact of political and historical upheaval.
Alice Kharoubi
Director of Programming at the Marché du Film
After studying in France and the United States, Alice Kharoubi joined the Festival de Cannes team, where she has worked for many years. Formerly Head of Cannes Court Métrage, she has contributed for nearly two decades to the festival’s short film selection process. Her career has also taken her to the Abu Dhabi Film Festival as a programmer, as well as to the Tous Écrans Festival in Geneva, where she contributed to the programming team. Today, Alice is Director of Programming at the Marché du Film. She created Cannes Makers and has led the initiative since its inception. She also collaborates with the Red Sea International Film Festival, contributing to the development of the Red Sea Souk and organizing the Souk Talents and Souk Connections programmes. Regularly invited to support emerging filmmakers, discover new projects and serve on selection committees, Alice has consistently placed talent development, meaningful encounters and knowledge-sharing at the heart of her work.