Amazigh/Berber Film Festival
North Africa's Imazighen (Berbers):
Shared Cultures among Ethnic and Religious Diversity
Berman Room, Fromm Hall at the University of San Francisco
Free Event Open to the Public with RSVP
Friday
North Africa's Imazighen
Opening: Welcome and Introduction
Welcome and Introduction to the Amazigh/Berber Film Festival.
A Historical Overview of the Berbers
An overview of the rich history of the Berber people of North Africa.
Jewish and Muslim Imazighen (Berbers): Shared Cultural Heritage
Berber and European Jewish Voices at the time of the creation of Israel, followed by Q&A.
Feature Film: Fouroulou
Fouroulou (from Mouloud Feraoun's novel Le Fils du pauvre or The Poor Man's Son) is a coming-of-age story about Menrad Fouroulou, a sensitive Kabyle boy in colonial Algeria, chronicling his journey from a traditional village to French education, navigating cultural clashes, poverty, and his evolving identity as he strives to become a teacher, offering a poignant look at Berber life under French rule, its hardships, and the search for belonging.
North African Lunch with Film & Q&A
Excerpts from The Citron: Fruit of Splendor, a short documentary by Izza Genini. In a deep valley of the Moroccan Anti-Atlas Mountains, the fruit of the citron tree has been cultivated by Souss Berbers for centuries, following the rules of perfection demanded by the Divine Law for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
Feature Documentary: In Your Eyes I See My Country
In Your Eyes, I See My Country (original French title: Dans tes yeux, je vois mon pays) is a 2019 documentary following Israeli Judeo-Moroccan musicians Neta Elkayam and Amit Haï Cohen as they journey to Morocco to explore their ancestral roots, reconnecting with their heritage through music, encounters with locals, and performances, ultimately reshaping their understanding of their identity and shared history.
Panel Discussion with Mint Tea
Questions and Answers on Shared Amazigh culture across Muslim and Jewish communities with Neta Elkayam.
Who are the Sahrawis?
Feature Documentary: Sahrawi Ethnic Identity and the Occupation of Western Sahara
This is a documentary on the legal and humanitarian consequences of the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara. Produced by Academy Award-winning actor Javier Bardem, it tells the story of this often-overlooked conflict, which has resulted in 170,000 Sahrawis forced to live in harsh desert refugee camps, the severe repression for those remaining under Moroccan rule, and the struggle at the United Nations and elsewhere to support the Western Saharan people's right to self-determination.
Discussion with Mint Tea: The Sahrawis' Struggle for Self-Determination
The Sahrawis' Struggle for Self-Determination: Implications for International Law, followed by Q&A.
Historic Photographs: Colonial Photography of Berber Culture
A presentation on colonial photography of Berber culture, followed by Q&A.
Closing Remarks & Cultural Reception
Closing remarks by Professor Stephen Zunes. Cultural Reception: Terga Live Music with Traditional Food Representing Amazigh Heritage.
Berman Room, Fromm Hall
Located at the University of San Francisco, the Berman Room in Fromm Hall provides an intimate venue for film screenings, panel discussions, and cultural celebrations.
- University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
- Friday, January 30, 2026
- 10:00 AM - Evening