PITCH YOUR SHORT program 2025
MARRAKECH SHORT FILM FESTIVAL LAUNCHES “PITCH YOUR SHORT” IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TAMAYOUZ FOUNDATION
The Marrakech Short Film Festival (MARRAKECHsFF) proudly announces the launch of its new initiative “Pitch Your Short”, created in partnership with the Tamayouz Foundation.
This pioneering program aims to empower Moroccan and regional filmmakers by offering them a platform to present their short film projects to an international committee of industry experts.
A PROGRAM ROOTED IN COMMUNITY
The initiative builds on the festival’s commitment to its alumni network: participants are selected from previous editions of MARRAKECHsFF, reinforcing a sustainable ecosystem that supports filmmakers beyond their screenings.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FILMMAKERS
4 projects are selected.
Participants will pitch their short films in front of an international jury composed of producers, festival programmers, and industry professionals.
Projects will benefit from mentorship, production guidance, and networking opportunities.
Selected films will also gain visibility within the festival circuit, including a special showcase during the next edition of MARRAKECHsFF.
A SHARED VISION
Through this partnership, MARRAKECHsFF and Tamayouz Foundation share the mission of empowering youth, promoting independent cinema, and creating bridges between Morocco, the MENA region, and the international film community.
2025 LAUREATE
GABRIEL NAVARRO
Gabriel Navarro is a French-Spanish born in Casablanca and who has spent his life in Morocco. He is the child of this triple culture, a unique and singular product of this diversity. At seventeen, he aspires to study cinema in Marrakech, dreaming of becoming a writer-director. At the end of his course, he directs his first short film, Voilà, a love story dealing with the uncertainties of youth and artistic passion.
SAAD BENDIR
Saad Benidir is a Professional Film Editor with more than 12 years of experience in all aspects of video production (movies, commercials, Spot, documentary, Music Video .
SALMA ELBELGHITI
Salma El Belghiti is a passionate Moroccan filmmaker whose love for cinema began in childhood, fueled by a vivid imagination. She holds a diploma in audiovisual studies from a film school in Rabat and a master’s degree in documentary filmmaking from the University of Tétouan. Her three student films reflect her emotions and artistic vision, blending personal expression with cinematic craft.
ZAKARIA NAJIM
Zakaria Najim is a Moroccan filmmaker whose work has been selected by festivals in France, Spain, Italy, the United States, and beyond. His creative portfolio includes short films, institutional projects, and commercials, with a strong emphasis on narrative clarity and visual impact. In parallel with his filmmaking, Zakaria has led the development of marketing campaigns, social media series, and branded content for a range of clients — building a bridge between cinematic storytelling and advertising. He holds a Master’s degree in Film, Audiovisual, and Communication, which has enriched his practice with both academic depth and industry insight.
MENTORS
LAMIA CHRAIBI
Lamia Chraïbi is a Moroccan producer and founder of La Prod and Moon & Deal Films. She embodies a commitment to diverse storytelling through production and international co-production without compromise or self-censorship. Lamia has collaborated with directors like Hicham Lasri, Narjiss Nejjar, and Ismael Ferroukhi, fostering creativity and pushing narrative boundaries. Her international repertoire includes co-producing Oliver Laxe's "Las Mimosas" (Grand Prize at Cannes Critics' Week 2016) and Balint Kenyeres's "Tegnap" (Locarno Film Festival). Lamia helmed projects like Talal Selhami's "Achoura," the first Moroccan fantasy film, and Ismael Ferroukhi's "Mica." Her line-up extends to documentaries including Simone Bitton's "Ziyara" and Mohamed El Aboudi's "School of Hope." Lamia is a member of Film Independent's Global Media Makers, EAVE and The ACE Producer Network. Lamia founded Fondation Tamayouz, empowering women in Moroccan cinema through workshops, scholarships, and mentoring.
ZINEB KHARROUBI
Zineb Kharroubi is the Head of Festival Distribution and International Sales at La Luna Productions. Originally from Morocco, she has been living in France for the past four years. Zineb holds a Bachelor's degree in Management Sciences, a Master's degree in Digital Marketing, and a Master's degree in Management of Cultural Projects and Institutions, where she wrote theses on the representation of so-called Oriental women in Western art and the decolonization of art through art. She also completed a Master's degree in Film Distribution last year. Before joining La Luna Productions, she spent nearly two years as a Distribution and Sales Assistant at Miyu Distribution, specializing in the distribution of animated short films. Passionate about cinema, Zineb is dedicated to promoting impactful, socially engaged films on the international stage.
Tamayouz Foundation
Tamayouz Foundation is a Moroccan non-profit founded in 2018 to empower women in cinema. It supports emerging female filmmakers and producers through training, mentorship, scholarships, and professional residencies, fostering access to film education and industry networks in Morocco and across Africa.