Welcome to the fifth edition of our MAGHREB FILM FESTIVAL, the (North) African film Festival in Haarlem and Amsterdam, the Netherlands!
From May 30 to June 2, 2024, a selection of great films, features and shorts, from North-Africa, will be presented to the audience in six locations in Haarlem and Amsterdam and allows the audience to discover a unique and living cinematic tradition from this part of the world. Ten feature films and eleven short films, all made by independent African filmmakers, paint a portrait of current cinema in countries such as Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria and also other regions of Africa (South-Africa and Senegal). It is a Dutch première for most of the films. Click here for the program
The Authors.
Many directors, actors and actresses will be present at the festival to introduce their films and have a Q&A with the audience. You will also be able to meet filmmakers of African origin living in Europe and of course various professionals from the Dutch film world who have been invited to be present with us.
« The other » as theme.
The chosen theme this year is “the other”. At a time where polarization is an every day occurrence, the festival aims to offer insight into the world of “the other”, create greater mutual understanding and appreciate differences.
Five year anniversary of MFF
To celebrate this fifth anniversary, a (free entry) outdoor performance will be held for the first time, where everyone can watch the great film « The Cameraman » by and with Buster Keaton.
This classic will be screened with live music on saturday June 1 at 9:30 p.m.
(in case of rain, we’ll move to an indoor screening.)
Our fifth anniversary is also the perfect stepping stone to a new format in 2025 where we will broaden our horizons and will be focussing on the entire African continent instead of just the Maghreb. As a preview, the South African film « My broer, Gertjie » and the Senegalese film « Xalé » will be screened this edition. We of course would like to keep you informed of our projects.
The Brothers Hakim & Karim Traidia
The initiators of this festival are Hakim and Karim Traidia, born in the village of Besbes in Algeria. Both brothers are active in the field of cinema and theater, notably as directors and screenwriters. They both live in Haarlem and are strongly connected to the cultural network of Haarlem and beyond. Hakim & Karim have enjoyed the support and hard work of a team of volunteers.
Screening locations are :
Amsterdam
Tickets are available via www.maghrebfilmfestival.com , also by the different locations and on the evening of the screening at the location.
MFF Junior
Hakim will, as usually, involve the young audience to the Maghreb Film Festival, in collaboration with various schools. An educational program has been set up for this purpose, in collaboration with its Junior Cinema School, which is also celebrating its 10th anniversary this year! The idea is that young spectators become familiar with the cinema of Maghreb countries and get to be introduced to the culture and identity of « the other. »
About the founders
Hakim Traidia, better known as Hakim, is a die-hard artist and theater man who has directed dozens of plays for young audiences and performed in all the Dutch theaters. He owes his reputation mainly to the role he played on Sesame Street, a daily program for children, for more than three decades. He has appeared in several Dutch films, including “Pizza Mafia”, and television series, such as “Zina” and “GTST”. He created and collaborated on popular television programs such as “Vals Plat” and “Heilige Huisjes”. Hakim wrote (co-wrote) screenplays for his own films, “De Domino Player”, “The Kid from Algiers” and for others « The Last March » and « Inconnu », two Algerian short movies. His new anomation film will also be screened during the festival, providing an impressive insight into the world of a child during the war.
Karim Traidia is a director and screenwriter. He is known for his feature film The Polish Bride, which was nominated for a Golden Globe and won several awards around the world. Author of 6 feature films including “Les Diseurs de Verité” and “Chroniques de mon village”, Karim has directed several plays and has also directed various film workshops in the Arab world.
Award’s ceremony
The festival ends with an award’s ceremony. Various personalities from the cultural world and from the municipality of Haarlem and of course all the artists and film makers will honnor us with their presence.
The festival has been made possible thanks to the municipality of Haarlem, Circus Hakim and our team of volunteers whom we warmly thank.
Thank you Team of volunteers : Marcella Langhout (Marcellala’s Kreas), Alexandra Jansse (Xela Films), Walid Derouiche, Bernadette Strik, Kitty Cornelisse, Willeke van den Bosch, Fleur Duif Abdo El Haloui, Latifa Morjane, Kim, Sid Ali Ould Boukattine, Tahar Houchi, Harry Spoelstra, Suzan Bergman, Tim Vardy et Youcef Boudjou.