Functioning as a hub for research, learning, and experimentation, AML provides a nurturing space for those exploring the realms of cinema and mixed media arts as vehicles for social inquiry and transformation.
منذ إنشائه بالمغرب سنة 2010، يعمل المشروع الجمعوي “المختبر العربي لفنون الميديا” على نشر ثقافة الابداع السمعي البصري المستقل ومجال الصور الرقمية، كما يعمل أيضا على تعليم فن الصورة. تم إنشاء فعاليات ومهرجانات، من أجل المساهمة على التغييرالشخصي والمجتمعي عن طريق فنون الميديا…
𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬! Rooftop Films Marrakech invites you to submit your film and be part of our next festival under the Marrakech stars. Let your story light up the rooftops!
#RooftopFilmsMarrakech #MarrakechFilmNights #RooftopCinemaFestival #MarrakechRooftopFilms #FilmsUnderTheStars #opencallforartists #opencall #filmmakers #marrakech @arabmedialab
Last Saturday marked the closing night of Rooftop Films Festival with Sur la Planche by Leila Kilani — a raw, powerful story that stayed with us long after the credits rolled. Thank you to everyone who joined us under the Marrakech sky
#rooftopfilmsmarrakech #arabmedialab #marrakechrooftopfilms #marrakechfilmnights #rooftopcinemafestival #cinemaunderthestars #surlaplanche @arabmedialab
Saturday 18 October at 8:30pm, join us for a special Rooftop screening in Marrakech, hosted by @arabmedialab we’ll be showing Sur La planche by Leïla Kilani
#rooftopfilmsmarrakech #arabmedialab #marrakechrooftopfilms #marrakechfilmnights #rooftopcinemafestival #cinemaunderthestars #surlaplanche
Sur la planche (2011)
Director: Leila Kilani
Tangier - Today, four twenty-year-old women work to survive during the day and live at night. All four are factory workers, divided into two castes: textile workers and shrimp workers. Their obsession: to move. "We`re here," they say. From dawn to dusk, the pace is frenetic; they cross the city. Time, space, and sleep are scarce. Small emergency tinkerers who work on men and empty houses. Such is the mad dash of Badia, Imane, Asma, and Nawal...
#rooftopfilmsmarrakech #arabmedialab #marrakechrooftopfilms #marrakechfilmnights #rooftopcinemafestival #cinemaunderthestars #surlaplanche @arabmedialab
Saturday 18 October at 8:30pm, join us for a special Rooftop screening in Marrakech, hosted by @arabmedialab we’ll be showing Sur La planche by Leïla Kilani
#rooftopfilmsmarrakech #arabmedialab #marrakechrooftopfilms #marrakechfilmnights #rooftopcinemafestival #cinemaunderthestars #surlaplanche
A film that spoke.
An audience that listened.
A conversation that stayed long after the credits rolled. Thank you to our audience for turning a screening into a real cinematic exchange. ❤️
#RooftopFilmsMarrakech #LesMeutes #FilmTalk #moroccancinema
#LesMeutes #RooftopFilmsMarrakech #CinemaUnderTheSky #lesmeutes #hounds #arabmedialab @arabmedialab
Under the Marrakech sky, we screened Les Meutes by Kamal Lazraq
a gripping tale of survival and silence in the streets of Casablanca.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for another night of Moroccan cinema on the Rooftop.
#RooftopFilmsMarrakech #MarrakechFilmNights #RooftopCinemaFestival #MarrakechRooftopFilms #FilmsUnderTheStars #lesmeutes #hounds #arabmedialab @arabmedialab
Hounds - Les meutes (2023)
Director: Kamal Lazreq
A father and son in the suburbs of Casablanca get by on petty crimes for a local mob. When a kidnapping goes wrong, they must find a way to dispose of the body.
#RooftopFilmsMarrakech #MarrakechFilmNights #RooftopCinemaFestival #MarrakechRooftopFilms #FilmsUnderTheStars #lesmeutes #hounds #arabmedialab @arabmedialab
TEAM AML @arabmedialab : ABDELAZIZ TALEB
Abdelaziz Taleb is a mixed media artist, filmmaker, producer, archival artist, and curator with more than 20 years of experience. After completing his fellowship at the Academy of Media Arts in Cologne KHM (1999–2001), he embarked on an international filmmaking career. In 2010, he founded the Arab Media Lab (AML), where he develops artists’ programs, innovative projects, discussions, workshops, and training initiatives.
In 2003, the World Wide Video Festival recognized Taleb as one of the emerging talents poised to influence the global landscape of video and media art. His films and videos—often described as extensions of his own body—explore poetic visions, inner identity, spiritual purification, and profound social realities. Many of his works have been selected for Academy-accredited film and video festivals, including the Berlinale, Venice International Film Festival, International Film Festival Rotterdam, Festival International du Cinéma Méditerranéen Montpellier, Freewaves Los Angeles, Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, CCCB Barcelona, World Museum Rotterdam, Van Abbemuseum Eindhoven, and Villa des Arts in Casablanca and Rabat, among others.
AML’s notable achievements under his direction is the Digital Marrakech International Festival, which—despite limited arts funding in Morocco—has successfully taken place eight consecutive times. The festival showcases independent and experimental film, creative documentary, video and digital art, video installations, and 3D mapping. Other projects followed, including Planet of the Arabs, Tangier Interzone Series, Media Art Morocco, Rooftop Films Marrakech, Marrakech Unfiltered, and many more.
Taleb continues to work as a mixed media artist while curating projects locally and internationally. He also serves as a mentor and jury member for various festivals and institutions, including Berlinale Talents, the Prince Claus Fund, the Cairo Video Art Festival, and others. Most recently, he contributed to the book Archaeology of New Media Arts in the Arab World, published by Diriyah Art Futures and the Museums Commission of Saudi Arabia.
TEAM AML @arabmedialab : ABDELLATIF BENFAIDOUL
Abdellatif Benfaidoul is a distinguished video artist, producer, and curator, renowned for his innovative contributions to media art and video installations.
His artistic philosophy centers on portraying everyday life, operating under the belief that "reality is much more real than reality itself." This perspective is vividly depicted in all his works. In 2002, alongside Abdelaziz Taleb, Benfaidoul co-founded VIDEOKARAVAAN, then Arab Media Lab in 2010, based in Marrakech. The organization is committed to strengthening the media art sector in Morocco and the Arab region by organizing projects that focus on media art and supporting young artists. The collective believes that mixed media, digital video, video installations, and interactive art contribute to artistic exchange and the social development of Arab society.
Benfaidoul`s video installations have been exhibited internationally, reflecting his global artistic impact. Notably, his work "Recruiting Identities" (2008) was featured in the exhibition series "İstanbul Eindhoven SALTVanAbbe Post `89," which included artists like Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Stanley Brouwn, Rineke Dijkstra, and Marlene Dumas.
His creations are part of esteemed collections in major art institutions and private collections, underscoring his significant influence in the contemporary art scene.
Abdellatif Benfaidoul`s dedication to portraying authentic narratives and his commitment to fostering media art in the Arab world have established him as a pivotal figure in contemporary art, inspiring a new generation of artists and audiences alike.
TEAM AML @arabmedialab : AYA LASKROUIF
Aya Laskrouif is a graphic designer whose work combines visual communication, contemporary design, and creative experimentation. After earning her diploma in 2024, she focused on developing a design-centered practice grounded in clarity and thoughtful aesthetics. Alongside her main discipline, Aya occasionally explores photography and editing as complementary tools in her creative process.
Aya’s professional and artistic growth was deeply shaped by her experience at Arab Media Lab, which had a big and meaningful impact on her development. There, she strengthened her design skills, learned to work effectively within teams, and built confidence in collaborative and social environments. This period also helped her open new doors to cultural and community-based projects.
In recent years, Aya has begun engaging in event and project creation within the cultural scene. She contributed to the development of Rooftop Films Marrakech, a new film festival that brings cinema to open and unconventional spaces. During the festival’s creation, Aya served as Head of Operations – Online, Social Media & Photo Editing, a role that allowed her to manage digital communication, oversee online presence, and support visual content production.
Aya continues to evolve as a designer by exploring visual communication in different contexts and seeking opportunities that connect design, culture, and public engagement
TEAM AML @arabmedialab : MOHAMED LACHHAB
Mohamed Lachhab, affectionately known as “El Hombre Invisible,” is the Co-Manager of the Arab Media Lab since 2015. The nickname, inspired partly by his fascination with William Burroughs, reflects both his literary sensibility and his quiet, behind-the-scenes working style. Though discreet by nature, his contribution to the Arab Media Lab has been essential to its development, partnerships, and long-term vision.
Lachhab studied Marketing and Communication at the PIMAS Institute in Agadir and later obtained a Master’s degree in French Literature, a combination that grounds his work in both strategic thinking and deep cultural awareness.
A passionate cinephile, he is particularly devoted to B-movies, independent cinema, and spaghetti westerns. He was among the first in the region to launch a YouTube channel—CINEMA AFLAM—dedicated to these genres, making rare and cult films accessible to Arabic-speaking audiences through careful translation and curation.
Within the Arab Media Lab, he has represented the organization in numerous international meetings and conferences and led the Lab’s partnership with AFAC during the NACP funding period, ensuring strong coordination and communication.
Despite his preference for working out of the spotlight, Mohamed Lachhab remains one of the key pillars of the Arab Media Lab: a steady, invisible force whose dedication, loyalty, and love for cinema continue to shape the project’s identity and impact.
TEAM AML @arabmedialab : RIHAB CHARIDA
Rihab Charida is a Palestinian media producer and filmmaker based in Beirut, and the first project manager in the history of the Arab Media Lab. As one of the earliest collaborators of the Lab, she played a key role in shaping its vision, development, and international outreach. Her contribution remains an essential part of the project’s foundation and identity.
Born to Palestinian refugees expelled from the village of Safsaf during the olive harvest of 1948, Charida grew up with a deep awareness of memory, displacement, and narrative—elements that continue to inform her cinematic and journalistic work.
Over the past 20 years, she has worked across the Middle East with leading international news networks, including Al Jazeera, BBC, and SBS, producing documentaries and stories that bridge political depth with human experience.
She later pursued her path as an independent filmmaker, gaining wide recognition for her acclaimed film A Disturbed Earth, which marked an important milestone in her career. Despite her focus on filmmaking, Rihab Charida remains an integral figure in the ongoing story of the Arab Media Lab, whose early trajectory she helped define with dedication, creativity, and vision.
@yassiradghem
تجربة Arab Media Lab: شهادات من التغيير
تقدّم Arab Media Lab سلسلة من الشهادات المصوّرة تحت عنوان "تجربة Arab Media Lab: شهادات من التغيير"، تسلّط الضوء على تجارب المشاركين والزوار الذين انخرطوا في ورشات المختبر وبرامجه في مجالات فنون الميديا والسينما. من خلال هذه الشهادات، نكتشف قصصاً شخصية تعبّر عن أثر الإبداع، والفن، والحوار في تطوير القدرات، وتعزيز الثقة بالنفس، وفتح آفاق جديدة للتعلّم والتفاعل الثقافي. هذه المبادرة توثّق تحوّلات حقيقية عاشها الأفراد، وتعكس التزام Arab Media Lab بدعم التغيير الإيجابي عبر الفن، وفنون الميديا، والسينما، والثقافة.
The Arab Media Lab Experience: Testimonies of Change
A collection of voices from those who have lived the Arab Media Lab journey — visitors, artists, and young creators who took part in our workshops, screenings, and projects. Each testimony reflects a personal path of discovery, where film, art, and dialogue became tools for learning and self-expression. Through their words, we see how creativity can open new perspectives, build confidence, and connect people across backgrounds. These stories are not only about what they learned, but how they changed — and how they now carry that change forward into their own communities.
#arabmedialab
#Digitalmarrakech
#morocco
#marrakech
#cinema
#openaircinema
@arabmedialab
@rooftopfilmsmarrakech
#
@eyahatesurguts
تجربة Arab Media Lab: شهادات من التغيير
تقدّم Arab Media Lab سلسلة من الشهادات المصوّرة تحت عنوان "تجربة Arab Media Lab: شهادات من التغيير"، تسلّط الضوء على تجارب المشاركين والزوار الذين انخرطوا في ورشات المختبر وبرامجه في مجالات فنون الميديا والسينما. من خلال هذه الشهادات، نكتشف قصصاً شخصية تعبّر عن أثر الإبداع، والفن، والحوار في تطوير القدرات، وتعزيز الثقة بالنفس، وفتح آفاق جديدة للتعلّم والتفاعل الثقافي. هذه المبادرة توثّق تحوّلات حقيقية عاشها الأفراد، وتعكس التزام Arab Media Lab بدعم التغيير الإيجابي عبر الفن، وفنون الميديا، والسينما، والثقافة.
The Arab Media Lab Experience: Testimonies of Change
A collection of voices from those who have lived the Arab Media Lab journey — visitors, artists, and young creators who took part in our workshops, screenings, and projects. Each testimony reflects a personal path of discovery, where film, art, and dialogue became tools for learning and self-expression. Through their words, we see how creativity can open new perspectives, build confidence, and connect people across backgrounds. These stories are not only about what they learned, but how they changed — and how they now carry that change forward into their own communities.
