Chefchaouen will host the 14th International Childhood and Youth Film Festival from 10 to 12 July 2026, bringing together filmmakers, actors, producers and cinema professionals from 14 countries under the theme “Cinema and the Twinning of Cities.” The event aims to promote intercultural dialogue, strengthen international cultural cooperation and celebrate cinema dedicated to children and young audiences.
According to the festival organizers, this year’s edition continues the event’s commitment to supporting childhood and youth cinema, encouraging emerging filmmakers and promoting visual education through a diverse cultural and cinematic program. The chosen theme highlights the role of cinema in fostering dialogue between cities, strengthening cultural partnerships and encouraging exchanges between different communities through artistic expression.
The festival’s official program features an international competition of eight short films, alongside sixteen additional short films screened in parallel sections. The event will also present ten African productions as part of a partnership with the International African Film Festival, in addition to a special program of ten animated films designed for children.
The opening ceremony will feature the Moroccan film “Africa Blanca”, directed by Ezz El Arab Al Alaoui, while the closing ceremony will include a screening of the Spanish film “Lou & Leo”, directed by Carlos Solano, who is expected to attend the event.
The international jury will be chaired by Moroccan filmmaker Ezz El Arab Al Alaoui and will include Spanish actress May Millero, Chilean director Sebastián Castillo, Anouar El Hiwar, Director of the International Sousse Film Festival in Tunisia, and Moroccan filmmaker and producer Moulay Taïeb Bouhanana.
The festival will also welcome an official delegation from the Spanish city of Vejer de la Frontera, composed of local officials and cultural representatives, as part of efforts to strengthen cultural cooperation and city-twinning initiatives between the two cities. In addition, Moroccan actor Omar Lotfi and Spanish actor Jesús Castro will be honored in recognition of their contributions to the film industry.
Beyond film screenings, the festival will host a series of conferences, professional meetings and training workshops focusing on screenwriting, cinematography and film production. A conference dedicated to opportunities for film co-production between Morocco, Spain and Tunisia will also be organized, while the professional platform LAB FCFEJ will provide networking opportunities for directors, producers and professionals from the audiovisual industry.
Festival activities will take place across several of Chefchaouen’s most iconic venues, including Outa El Hammam Square, the Kasbah, the Kasbah Theatre, the Youth Center, and other cultural spaces throughout the city’s historic medina, offering visitors a program that combines film screenings, educational workshops and artistic exchanges.
Through its 14th edition, the International Childhood and Youth Film Festival continues to strengthen its position as one of Morocco’s leading cultural and cinematic events. By bringing together professionals and artists from around the world, the festival seeks to promote creativity, encourage intercultural dialogue and reinforce international cooperation through the universal language of cinema.