When Moroccan Animation Shapes a Global Imaginary: A Cultural Treasure to Share

Moroccan animation is entering a new era. With a growing generation of creative talent, emerging studios, and increasing institutional support, the country is laying the foundations for a vibrant industry. The real opportunity lies in Morocco’s untapped cultural heritage—oral traditions, visual symbols, architecture, and music ready to be reimagined through animation.

Ali Rguigue, producer at Artcoustic Studios and founder of Flow Motion School, will open the session by outlining this moment of transition and the potential to build an animation ecosystem that is both locally grounded and globally resonant.

Following this strategic introduction:

Sofia El Khyari, Animation director and producer, will present her visually poetic universe, exemplified in works like Ombre de Papillons. She will share how her films, inspired by Moroccan aesthetics and femininity, have found resonance on the international festival circuit.

Mohamed Khouna, film distributor and consultant, will explore the crucial yet often overlooked role of distribution in building a sustainable animation industry. Drawing on his experience between France and Morocco, he will outline the structural and strategic conditions necessary to bring Moroccan content to screens across the globe.

Jihane Joypaul, director and animator, will delve into her upcoming stop-motion short film Harun & Mamun, a tender, tactile exploration of childhood and memory. She will also speak about her experience pitching the project at Annecy, and the value of stop motion and handcrafted techniques in the digital age.

Ghita Amrati, writer and director, will share her work at the crossroads of animation and documentary. From Hikayat wa Ibar, the first Moroccan animated series inspired by traditional tales, to her new project Tourat Al Maghrib, she advocates for animation as a powerful vehicle for transmitting Morocco’s historical memory and cultural diversity.

Together, the panelists will explore how Moroccan animation can move from potential to presence transforming cultural identity into universal storytelling. An informal networking session within the room will follow.

MODERATOR:

Ali Rguigue (Producer, Artcoustic Studios, Founder and CEO, Flow Motion School)

SPEAKERS:

Sofia El khyari (Animation Director and Producer)

Mohamed Khouna (Distributor of Animated Films, Film Consulting Events)

Jihane Joypaul (Director and Animator)

Ghita Amrati (Director and Writer in Animation, Artcoustic Studios)

HOSTED BY CITIA, CENTRE CINÉMATOGRAPHIQUE MAROCAIN AND THE VENICE PRODUCTION BRIDGE.

CITIA - City of Moving Images:

Based in Annecy, CITIA is a French public institution dedicated to the creative industries. It carries out three main missions: cultural, through the Annecy International Animation Film Festival; economic, via the MIFA market; and educational, through training and research in animation and digital media.

CENTRE CINÉMATOGRAPHIQUE MAROCAIN:

The CCM is Morocco’s national film authority. It regulates, supports, and promotes cinema in the country, oversees production and distribution, delivers official permits, manages national festivals, and promotes Morocco as a filming destination.