Moroccan cinema is in the spotlight this year at the Cairo International Film Festival, with the selection of the feature film Radiadirected by Khaoula Assebab Benomar, in the prestigious “Critics Week” competition.
This 79-minute film, in black and white, follows the journey of Radia, a young Moroccan woman in search of emancipation. Through an introspective journey without a specific destination, she seeks to free herself from the constraints that limit her and opens herself to a rediscovery of herself. Radia thus embodies the central question of the film: what is the true meaning of success for the modern Moroccan woman?
Produced in 2024 by Raouf Sebbahi, and with a cast including Sonia Mallah and Hafsa Tayeb, Radia marks its world premiere at the Cairo International Film Festival.
The director, Khaoula Assebab Benomar, considers this selection as an opportunity to introduce her work to Arab and international audiences. “ This world-renowned festival brings together key figures of Arab and international cinema, offering a privileged space for the exchange of experiences, know-how and perspectives. “, she said.
Radia is the director’s second feature film, after Noor in the darknesshis first film presented in 2017, which won awards at several international festivals. With her commitment to cinema, Khaoula Assebab Benomar also chaired the jury of the official competition for fiction and documentary short films during the 24th edition of the Tangier National Film Festival last October.
To close, let us remember that the Cairo International Film Festival is distinguished by a rich and diverse program, including in particular the “Critics Week” competition, which attracts a large audience and informed critics each year. Under the presidency of Egyptian actor Hussein Fahmi, this event is one of the most prestigious in the Arab world and Africa. It is also the only festival in the region classified in category “A” by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations, based in Paris.
