Doha: The 17th International Documentary Film Festival has kicked off in the Moroccan city of Agadir: The event will run until June 24, showcasing 28 movies from 16 Arab and international countries.

According to Qatar News Agency, during the opening ceremony, festival president Hind Saih stated that the selected movies serve as essential tools for understanding contemporary challenges. She emphasized the festival's commitment since its inception to supporting Moroccan and African filmmakers, as documentary cinema offers a space for reflection, dialogue, and freedom.

The opening ceremony also featured the Moroccan premiere of Jerome Le Maire's latest film, "Sun and Bullets." The international competition includes nine feature-length documentaries, which will be evaluated by a judging panel consisting of filmmaker Karima Saidi (Morocco-Belgium), director Nelson Makengo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), and filmmaker Aurelie Sfez (France).

Three awards will be presented to the winners: the Grand Prize "Nuzha Drissi Award," the Jury Special Prize, and the First Work Award. The festival also showcases, in partnership with "Lieux Fictifs" and the National Center for Visual Arts, 11 short movies by women artists from the Mediterranean region.