The Meknès International Animation Film Festival (FICAM), held from May 16 to 21, 2025, under the initiative of the Aïcha Foundation in partnership with the city's French Institute, concluded after a week that brought together emerging talents, seasoned animation experts, and a fusion with video gaming. This twenty-third edition was highlighted by the Moroccan premiere of the film «Flow» by Gints Zilbalodis, described as a «cinematic UFO praised for its immersive aesthetics and contemplative storytelling». Presented in partnership with Gebeka Films, the film captivated audiences with its visual language and the video game experience it offers. Exploring the bridges between artistic disciplines and new visual narratives, the week also featured training sessions for over 100 young students from across Morocco, along with conferences, masterclasses, special screenings, and interactive workshops, according to a statement from the organizers. At the French Institute of Meknès, the closing ceremony unveiled a rich list of winners. The Grand Jury Prize for Short Films (3,000 €) was awarded to «Pubert Jimbob» (Quirjin Dees). A special mention was given to «Les belles cicatrices» (Raphaël Jouzeau), while the Youth Prize went to «Los Carpinchos» (Alfredo Soderguit). The Audience Award honored «Cracher dans la soupe» (Chantal Peten). The Students' Award went to «Intermission» (Milo Bonnard), and the Junior Jury Prize (awarded by students from Paul Valéry High School and members of the Théâtre des Chamâtes) celebrated «La légende du Colibri» (Morgan Devos). The Audience Award for Short Films was also awarded to «Cracher dans la soupe». The Junior Jury Prize for Feature Films (2,000 €) was awarded to «Le parfum d'Irak» (Léonard Cohen), while the Audience Award went to «Hola Frida» (André Kadi and Karine Vézin). For its second edition, the international VR animation film competition also announced its winners. The Audience Award went to «The river» (Anbela Costa), while the Special Mention from the VR Jury was awarded to «Play Life» (Žilvinas Naujokas, Vilius Petrauskas, Mantas Pronckus, and Donatas Ulvydas). The Grand Prize of the VR Jury (3,000 €) was awarded to «Address Unknown: Fukushima now» (Arif Khan).
