When Africa Films Its Future Through Women’s Voices: AWAY, Ten New Voices of African Cinema Premiere Their Films at the Rabat Cinematheque

الحسن باكريم lahcen bakrim28 October 2025 - 17:43

Casablanca, 27 October 2025 – This evening, the Rabat Cinematheque hosted the closing ceremony of the pan-African AYWA (African Young Women in Action) residency. Over six weeks, between Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech, ten young filmmakers from the five sub-regions of Africa took on a rare challenge: starting from a blank page to write, shoot and complete a short film under professional conditions.

The result: ten original films, ten unique voices, brought together for the first time before the public and the press.

A Unique Creative Laboratory in Africa

Selected from over 400 applications, the participants took part in an intensive programme that included:

Writing and development (synopsis, script, storyboard, casting, location scouting),
Professional shooting, supported by experienced technical crews,
Post-production (editing, sound, mixing, colour grading) under tight deadlines.

These short films will together form a pan-African anthology series, driven by women’s perspectives — navigating heritage, personal revolutions, and contemporary imaginations.

A Closing Ceremony Under the Banner of Sharing and Transmission

The closing evening took place at the Rabat Cinematheque in the presence of the ten filmmakers, Hicham Lasri, the main mentor of the programme, Lamia Chraibi, President of the Tamayouz Cinema Foundation, as well as representatives of UNESCO and institutional and private partners.

In front of an audience made up of media professionals, audiovisual industry figures, diplomats and cultural institutions, the short films were screened for the very first time.

The room resonated with emotions, discussions and exchanges between the filmmakers and the guests, confirming AYWA as not only a space for cinema, but also one of dialogue, boldness and transmission.

Statement by Hicham Lasri – Lead Mentor of the Residency

« AYWA was born from a desire to reinvent what a residency can be: to start from a strong idea, support young African filmmakers—selected from more than 400 applicants—and guide them from a blank page to a completed film in just six weeks. The first two weeks were the most demanding — writing, structuring, learning tools that normally take years to master. Then came the challenge of shooting, that moment when you must direct, decide, and hold steady despite the stress and the lack of time. Finally, during post-production, they discovered the power of editing, sound, and image — with remarkable maturity. Watching these voices emerge, these films take shape, and this solidarity between them grow is proof that another kind of African cinema is possible — bold, rigorous, and deeply human. »

Statement by Lamia Chraibi – President of the Tamayouz Cinema Foundation & Founder of the AYWA Programme

« With AYWA, we wanted to offer these filmmakers comprehensive support — from writing to post-production — while giving them the means to express their individuality. This programme was born from a conviction: we are the ones best placed to tell our realities, our stories, our cultures. AYWA is not just a residency; it is a platform to bring new voices to light, to build bridges between emerging talents and industry professionals, and to affirm that Africa can produce a cinema that is free, ambitious, and authentic. »

Participant Testimonials

Wissal Jabri (Morocco)

“Getting to know different cultures and being inspired by their stories and heritage was eye-opening. AYWA pushed me out of my comfort zone and led me to create a film far from my usual style. It has made me rethink my future with more clarity and ambition.”

Abigail Kelapile (Botswana)

“Learning how a story evolves from a simple idea to a complete script changed everything for me. Here, mentors don’t just correct you — they challenge you. It forces you to understand why you are telling this story, not just how. Working with other filmmakers across Africa opened new paths, especially for future documentary projects.”

Official Partners

AYWA is an initiative led by the Tamayouz Cinema Foundation, in partnership with UNESCO, with the support of the People’s Republic of China, the Story School of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Intelcia, Digital Factory and LaProd.

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Contacts presse