WELCOME
The Cinémathèque marocaine joined the FIAF family as a longtime proponent of the idea that cinematographic memory is shared heritage, a common history, and a universal good that it is our duty to preserve, to pass on, and to honour.
The symposium of this Congress—“Reinventing African and Arab Cinematographic Memory”—lies at the very heart of the major issues concerning our continent and our region today. With rigor and responsibility, it examines the conditions of preserving, transmitting, and reactivating a film memory that has long been fragmented, dispersed, and at times marginalized or rendered invisible.
This theme calls for a shift in perspective: it invites us to rethink our collective narratives, to restore life and intelligibility to forgotten images, and to imagine, through shared dialogue, the possible futures of our cinematographic heritage.
It is with sincere joy that we welcome you to Rabat. A city of light and a cultural capital, Rabat embodies the openness, hospitality, and plurality that are the soul of Morocco.
In a spirit of respect and recognition for all cultural memories—multiple, intertwined, and part of our shared history—that make up our country, we extend our welcome to you: marhaban bikoum.
May this Congress be warm, fruitful, inspiring, and faithful to what unites us: a passion for cinema, the protection of memory, and the conviction that images, once saved, belong to the whole world.
Hosting the 2026 Congress in Rabat represents, for us, the culmination of a long path of dialogue, commitment, and cooperation with cinematheques around the world. It is a great honour, but also a responsibility that we embrace with pride and gratitude.
For our institution—and for the entire film archiving community—this Congress will be a unique opportunity for meetings, exchanges, and shared knowledge, so that we may share our experiences, our practices, and our visions for the future, in the spirit of collegiality for which FIAF is known.
Welcome to Rabat
Welcome to the Cinémathèque marocaine
Welcome to the FIAF Congress 2026
Mission
To collect, preserve, restore, and promote Moroccan, African, and world film heritage, affirming cinema as a part of humanity’s living memory.
Vision
To make the Cinémathèque marocaine a place of moving memory and intercultural dialogue.
objective
To position the Cinémathèque marocaine as a leading continental and regional reference centre for the preservation of film heritage.
