The jury for ICESCO’s Short Films Award held the first meeting, at the headquarters of the Organization’s in Rabat, to reaffirm the selection criteria and tasks of the jury members prior to announcing the winners.
The Jury comprises Mr. Najib Rhiati, Director of Culture and Communication Sector at ICESCO; Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Cultural Advisor to the Director-General (DG); Khaled Ibrahimi, Film Director; Mohammed Chouika, film critic and writer; and Abdelilah Hamdouchi, novelist and screenwriter. A team of ICESCO’s experts and technicians will also assist the jury.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) announced the Award in mid-April, as part of the “Distance Culture” initiative amid the COVID-19 related lockdown.
The purpose is to encourage young artistic creativity, discover young talents in short fiction and documentary films production, disseminate peace, set up ICESCO Short Films Library, and anticipate “life economy” as well as future working patterns, creativity, production, and future jobs.
The top three contestants will respectively win USD 8,000 for the 1st prize, USD 6,000 for the 2nd prize, and USD 4,000 for the 3rd prize cash awards. To qualify for the award, the short film must:

1. Not exceed 4 minutes;
2. Not have been submitted to a previous competition;
3. Not undermine human, religious, or national values;
4. Be subtitled in one of ICESCO’s three official languages (Arabic, English or French).

ICESCO launched contests during lockdown in various creative fields, including short story, drawing, and short films. The winners for each contest will be announced in a chronological order.