Under the mentorship of internationally acclaimed filmmakers Abderrahame Sissako and Hicham Lasri, this film residency for 10 young women filmmakers from Africa aims to foster creativity, collaboration, and visibility for emerging African women filmmakers
RESIDENCY FOR YOUNG AFRICAN WOMEN FILMMAKERS
Conceived and organized by the Fondation Tamayouz Cinéma, in partnership with the Story School program at Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique (UM6P), Intelcia, La Prod and Digital Factory, the AYWA residency was initiated by UNESCO with the support of the People's Republic of China. This program marks a new chapter for African women filmmakers.
From September 15 to October 27, 2025, ten young filmmakers from across the continent came together in Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech for a six-week creative immersion built around mentorship, collaboration and experimentation.
Under the guidance of Abderrahmane Sissako, honorary mentor, and Hicham Lasri, lead mentor, the residency offered a space for artistic exploration and professional development. Around them, a network of experts in screenwriting, production, editing, sound, color grading and distribution strategy shared their knowledge, making AYWA a true creative laboratory.
Each participant wrote, directed and post-produced a short film under professional conditions. Together, their works form a pan-African anthology titled "Cool Center – African Voices", transforming this shared setting into a space of voices, rhythms and cultural crossings. We hold the conviction that our stories carry universal power — provided they are told with sincerity, freedom and ambition. The project was designed to give them the room to fully unfold, and to bring new, powerful voices from across the continent into the world. It is also an act of faith in the future of an African cinema that is plural, bold and resolutely feminine.
The residency closed with an inaugural screening at the Cinémathèque Marocaine de Rabat on October 27, complemented by a press and networking event bringing together film industry professionals and actors of international cooperation.
Born of a shared conviction, AYWA extends the mission of the Fondation Tamayouz Cinéma, established in 2019, which works toward training, mentorship and access to opportunities in service of an African cinema that is diverse, demanding and vibrant.
