January 2027 • University of San Francisco

San Francisco Amazigh Berber Cultural Film Festival

San Francisco's celebration of the stories, voices, and artistic expressions of the Amazigh (Berber) people returns to the University of San Francisco in January 2027 with a curated selection of films, documentaries, and visual works exploring identity, resistance, migration, and cultural preservation.

2027 Theme: "Roots & Routes — The Amazigh Peace Journey"

Our Inaugural Festival

USF Amazigh Berber Cultural Festival 2026

Held Friday, January 30, 2026 • 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM • Berman Conference Room, Fromm Hall

Amazigh Berber Cultural Festival - Friday January 30th, 10AM-7PM, Berman Room, Fromm Hall

North Africa's Imazighen: Shared Cultures among Ethnic and Religious Diversity

A Film Festival initiated by Dr. Zehlia Babaci-Wilhite, co-sponsored by Stephen Zunes (Middle Eastern Studies), Nora Fisher Onar (Global Studies), in collaboration with LLC and UC Berkeley's Middle Eastern Studies and Jewish Studies programs.

The theme was "Shared Cultures among Ethnic and Religious Diversity." The festival fostered interdisciplinary dialogue on cultural, religious, and historical diversity within Amazigh/Berber societies through film and scholarly discussion.

A free event that welcomed the public to USF — and it returns in January 2027.

About the Festival

Roots & Routes: The Amazigh Peace Journey

The San Francisco Amazigh Berber Cultural Film Festival is a one-of-a-kind cultural event dedicated to showcasing the rich heritage and contemporary voices of the Amazigh (Berber) people—one of the world's oldest indigenous communities.

Our 2027 theme, "Roots & Routes — The Amazigh Peace Journey," explores the dual nature of Amazigh identity: deep connections to ancestral lands, the journeys of diaspora communities around the world, and the pursuit of peace across them.

Learn More

Festival Highlights

  • World premiere screenings
  • Director Q&A sessions
  • Cultural workshops
  • Networking events
  • Traditional cuisine
Featured Films

2026 Official Selection

A curated selection of the finest Amazigh cinema, featuring world premieres and award-winning documentaries.

FouroulouFeature Film

Fouroulou

Dir. Ali Berkennou2023

A coming-of-age story about Menrad Fouroulou, a sensitive Kabyle boy in colonial Algeria.

In Your Eyes I See My CountryDocumentary

In Your Eyes I See My Country

Dir. Kamal Hachkar2019

Israeli Judeo-Moroccan musicians journey to Morocco to explore their ancestral roots.

Sons of the Clouds: The Last ColonyDocumentary

Sons of the Clouds: The Last Colony

Dir. Javier Bardem2012

A documentary on the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara and the Sahrawis' struggle for self-determination.

Short Documentary

The Citron: Fruit of Splendor

Dir. Izza Genini2000

Souss Berbers cultivating citron in the Moroccan Anti-Atlas Mountains for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.