MARRAKECH, Morocco  – Christie® and Moroccan cinema exhibitor Cinerji are supporting the next generation of film talent by sponsoring the Atlas Workshops at Marrakech International Film Festival. The Atlas Workshops is a programme established to nurture emerging Moroccan, Arab, and African filmmakers and create a space for exchange among international professionals and regional talents. The 6th edition of the Atlas Workshops takes place during the 20th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival, which runs from November 24 to December 2.

"We're delighted to support new and upcoming filmmakers, and it's a privilege to do so in a region which has such abundant talent paired with a rich and diverse culture," says Adil Zerouali, senior sales director, Christie. "Nurturing the next generation of filmmakers and photographers across the globe is an important mission of Christie's. It's clear that the Atlas Workshops is doing fantastic work in this area, serving as both an incubator and an important platform for films and filmmakers from the region, helping them to thrive and access a wider audience."

The Atlas Workshops take place from November 27 to November 30, where various mentoring, training and panel discussion sessions will be held to support industry development. This year, nine films that received previous support from the Atlas Workshops will be shown at Marrakech International Film Festival. Earlier in the year, four films supported by the Atlas Workshops were featured at Cannes Film Festival. Legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese is the official patron of the Atlas Workshops, and a regular attendee of the Marrakech International Film Festival.

Co-sponsor Cinerji is a new exhibitor who is installing hundreds of Christie projectors at 25 multiplexes to provide cinema experiences in large and medium-sized cities across Morocco. The ambitious project aims to create a sustainable business model by balancing a premium offering while maintaining affordable prices for cinemagoers.

Christie has supported young talent as part of a longstanding partnership with the National Film and Theatre School, and its technologies are used to illuminate screens at prestigious international film festivals worldwide, including the Cannes Film Festival, Shanghai International Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival.