A heartfelt tribute was paid on Saturday in Ifrane to Moroccan filmmaker Izza Génini, a pioneer of documentary cinema in Morocco, during the seventh edition of the Al Akhawayn Short Film Festival. The honor celebrates an extraordinary career devoted to showcasing Morocco's cultural richness through a cinematic body of work that has preserved the country's heritage, people, regions, and foundational narratives. The event, organized by Al Akhawayn University (AUI), also featured the national premiere of Ms. Génini's latest documentary, Meqbouline: The Guests of Toumliline, which explores the history of the Benedictine monastery of Toumliline, active from 1952 to 1968 in Azrou. Speaking to MAP, Génini expressed her deep emotion and gratitude for the tribute, describing the moment as "almost magical" as she presented her latest film in a premiere screening. The filmmaker emphasized the symbolic resonance of the screening taking place in Ifrane—close to Toumliline—and at a university whose name, she noted, «perfectly fits the film». She explained that the documentary revisits a unique chapter in Moroccan history, centered on a monastery that served as a space for exchange, reflection, and dialogue across cultures, religions, and generations. «Toumliline was an absolutely extraordinary experience», she said, «ahead of its time in what we now call interfaith dialogue and coexistence», highlighting the natural and spontaneous spirit of this spiritual and human cohabitation. With this tribute, Al Akhawayn University and the festival organizers honored not only a remarkable filmmaker, but also a guardian of collective memory—committed to preserving and passing on the values of openness, diversity, and shared heritage.
