When blue meets green: Chefchaouen, a city that breathes ecology and cinema

The blue that adorns the alleys and facades of Chefchaouen has blended with the vibrant green carried by the Environmental Film Festival, giving birth to a unique fresco that translates the harmony between natural beauty and ecological awareness. This visual and symbolic fusion has made the city a space that expresses the soul of the earth and art as a means to protect and defend it.

In Chefchaouen, color is no longer mere urban decor or a tourist ornament; it carries a message. Blue embraces green, edition after edition, to establish an ecological film culture that takes root in memory and nourishes a sense of belonging.

Since its launch in 2009, the festival has given Chefchaouen a new mark of distinction, making the city the capital of green cinema. This symbolic coronation was not limited to an artistic event but solidified the city as a true destination for cultural and environmental tourism.

From Local Beginnings to an International Opening

The idea for creating this festival was born from a vision to familiarize the public with the seventh art and strengthen its presence in cultural life. Cinema was the primary vector, with the screening of local films made by young talents from the city, combining generalist works and productions dealing with environmental issues.

Gradually, the festival expanded its scope from a local to a regional, then national dimension, focusing on amateur films. Driven by ambition and perseverance, it then took on an international dimension, while maintaining its specialization in the environmental field, thus attracting a broad and diverse audience.

This approach created a fertile space for enthusiasts to exercise their creativity, develop their talents, and present their works within the festival's competitive framework. Today, the festival has its loyal followers, whether professionals or film students, who participate with enthusiasm and pride in its varied activities.

Despite a two-year interruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event has regained its splendor and today reaches its 14th edition, remaining true to its mission: defending the environment through art.

Global Recognition

In 2018, the festival reached an international milestone after years of perseverance, supported by volunteer efforts. This journey illustrates serious groundwork, guided by patience and a deep faith in the environment as a civilizational and human cause.

The festival does not merely establish Chefchaouen as the capital of green cinema; it places the city within a global dynamic that recognizes culture as a lever for sustainable development. It is a collective project that links several generations of creators and cultural actors and gives the city a reach that transcends borders.

With each new edition, the festival continues its noble mission: putting beauty at the service of great causes and raising the voice of the environment through the camera lens and the sincerity of creation.

Green Cinema: A Lever for Consciousness and a Vector for International Recognition

Over the years, the films presented at the Chefchaouen Festival have shaped an original cinematic taste, blending visual aesthetics with the depth of the ecological message. Green cinema has surpassed mere entertainment to become a collective cultural capital, nurturing environmental awareness and redefining the individual's relationship with their surroundings.

With its educational, aesthetic, and ecological dimensions, green cinema has established itself as an effective tool in the service of sustainable development, offering Chefchaouen genuine international recognition.

I remember, during an international conference on the environment, being asked about my country. When I answered "Morocco," one of the participants immediately reacted: "Ah, Chefchaouen… the Environmental Film Festival!" It was then I realized how powerfully the seventh art can become a tremendous vector of recognition for a city and a cause.

The 2025 Edition: Diversity and Richness of Ecological Creation

The 2025 edition saw, as usual, wide participation, with around 150 submissions divided into four categories: professional feature films, professional short films, amateur short films, and educational films.

This participation illustrates the growing interest of filmmakers from around the world in the environment as a universal issue. It also confirms the festival's place as an essential international event, attracting even renowned directors specialized in ecological cinema.

To manage this artistic fervor, the festival relies on a rigorous selection process based on artistic and thematic criteria, taking into account available time, the diversity of cinematic approaches, and respect for the environmental and artistic message.

A Festival for Ecological Consciousness and Sustainable Aesthetics

The Chefchaouen Festival has evolved from a local initiative into a complete artistic and cultural experience, illustrating the creative interaction between art and ecology. Through its constant vision, it has helped spread environmental awareness in an attractive and pedagogical way, making cinema a powerful tool for sensitization.

The 14th Edition: Cinema, Climate, and Culture

From September 10 to 13, 2025, Chefchaouen will host the 14th edition of the International Environmental Film Festival (FIFE), organized by the Talassemtane Association for Environment and Development, in partnership with the "Talassemtane" group of municipalities, with the support of the Moroccan Cinematographic Centre and the Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council.

Under the theme "Green Cinema for a Healthy and Sustainable Climate," this edition continues its mission: to make the seventh art a sensitive yet powerful tool for raising awareness about climate and environmental issues.

A "Plastic-Free" Festival

FIFE is the first festival of its kind in Morocco, the Arab world, and Africa to adopt a "Plastic-Free Festival" policy, embodying a unique model of harmony between ecological values and concrete practices. A symbolic choice but also a real commitment.

National and International Reach

With the participation of renowned directors, artists, researchers, and environmental activists, the festival establishes itself as a platform for exchange between cinema and the environment, strengthening Morocco's presence in green cinema networks and global cultural cooperation.

It also continues its tradition of honoring influential personalities with the title of "Environment Ambassadors," in recognition of their contributions to spreading sustainability values.

Chefchaouen, Blue Capital of Culture and Ecology

The festival is not limited to screenings: it also highlights the rich natural and cultural heritage of the Chefchaouen Geopark, with a program connecting Chefchaouen, Bab Taza, and Akchour. The opening will be held in Bab Taza with an educational and cinematic morning for children, featuring screenings, debates, and workshops.

By combining cinema, ecology, and cultural tourism, the festival helps strengthen Chefchaouen's image as an international sustainable development destination.

A Rich Program

The 2025 edition includes four official competitions: international professional films (features and shorts), amateur films, school films, and a Panorama section.

Two major conferences are planned: "Environmental Cinema Through Women's Eyes" and "The Digital Revolution as a Lever for Environmental Education and Sustainable Development in the Chefchaouen Geopark," as well as a collective master class and the screening of an award-winning global environmental film. Educational activities for children complete the program.

An Open Invitation

With this 14th edition, FIFE renews its ambition to be more than just a cinematic event: a citizen movement bringing together artists, thinkers, and activists around a common goal protecting the planet.

Chefchaouen invites cinephiles, nature lovers, environmental activists, and creators to take part in this unique gathering, where cinema, ecology, culture, and hope converge.