For its 16th edition, the Agadir International Documentary Film Festival (FIDADOC) reaffirmed its key role in shaping and promoting documentary cinema in Morocco and across Africa. Held from June 13 to 18, this year's event brought together filmmakers, critics, producers, and cinephiles around the theme of family, community, and creative ecosystems. Many of the featured films explored intimate subjects including parenthood, intergenerational bonds, heritage, and identity, resonating deeply with young directors, often presenting their first or second works. What emerged was a rich variety of approaches, a strong personal voice, and a shared desire to pass on memory, culture, and values. FIDADOC also continues to support emerging talent through its «Documentary Hive», which for over a decade has trained and mentored hundreds of filmmakers from Morocco, Africa, and the diaspora. Several films in this edition were developed through this ecosystem, including through Pan-African writing residencies, Produire au Sud workshops, and tailored mentoring. The festival's mission is to bring documentaries out of the margins, establishing them as powerful, accessible tools to tell stories of rupture and hope. By spotlighting voices from the Global South and investing in long-term capacity building, FIDADOC helps nurture a bold, rooted, and globally engaged documentary scene. This year also featured several international co-productions : Films from Lebanon, Senegal, Italy, and Canada—exploring themes such as war, memory, social resistance, and gender relations. One of the edition's standout moments was a tribute to Indian filmmaker Nishtha Jain, a leading voice in politically engaged documentary cinema.
