The 26th edition of the Khouribga International African Film Festival (FICAK) closed on Saturday night after a week of screenings, discussions and professional meetings, with the Tunisian film The Voice of Hind Rajab by Kaouther Ben Hania winning the festival’s top honor. Held in the Moroccan city of Khouribga under the theme “Between streaming and dream: the African dilemma,” the event brought together filmmakers, producers, critics and industry professionals to highlight the depth and diversity of African cinema.
The Grand Prize “Ousmane Sembene” went to The Voice of Hind Rajab, a feature film that stood out in a strong competitive lineup. The Jury Prize “Nourredine Saïl” was awarded to the Egyptian film The Settlement by Mohamed Rashad. Morocco also featured prominently in the winners’ list, with Ali Benjelloun receiving the Best Director award “Idrissa Ouédraogo” for Goundafa, the Cursed Song.
Senegal was recognized through the Best Screenplay award “Samir Farid,” which went to The Memory of the Mango Tree by Nicolas Sawolo Cissé. In the acting categories, Kenyan actress Michelle Lemuya Ikeny won Best Actress for Nawi dear future me, while Moroccan actor Younes Bouab took Best Actor for his performance in The Heir of Secrets.
In the short film competition, the Grand Prize “Najib Ayed” was awarded to the Moroccan film Another End by Tarik Rasmi. The Jury Prize “Paulin Soumanou Vieyra” went to Anima by Mauritanian director Boubecrine Ibrahim El Mamy.
Beyond the awards, the edition paid tribute to Cameroonian filmmaker Bassek Ba Kobhio, founder of the Écrans Noirs festival and a major figure in African cinema. The tribute honored his long-standing commitment to training young talent and expanding the reach of cinema across the continent. Festival director Iz-eddine Gourirran praised the richness of the programming and the variety of works presented, including films for young audiences, Panorama selections and professional networking sessions.
Jurors Alex Moussa Sawadogo and Abdelilah El Jaouhary also commended the artistic quality of the competition films, stressing that contemporary African cinema continues to address universal themes while remaining rooted in the histories, identities and social realities of the continent. After a week of screenings and debate, Khouribga once again served as a meeting point for African stories and creative voices.
