christopher‌ Nolan Urged to Boycott Western Sahara Filming by sahara International Film Festival

The Sahara ⁢International Film Festival (Fisahara) has issued a ‍strong appeal to ⁢Oscar-winning director Christopher Nolan, urging him to refrain from filming in Western Sahara, a territory largely controlled⁢ by Morocco. The call comes after Nolan recently shot scenes for his upcoming film,‍ The Odyssey, in the disputed region.

Maria Carrion, the executive ⁣director⁢ of Fisahara, stated on ​Wednesday, ‍”We call Nolan to be united with the saharawi peopel.” The festival, ‌held annually‌ in Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria, aims to highlight the plight of the sahrawi people and their struggle for self-determination.

Nolan, celebrated for his directorial⁤ work on Oppenheimer, was reportedly in Dakhla, Western ‍Sahara, for the filming of The ⁢Odyssey, slated for a 2026 release and featuring stars such as‍ Matt Damon and Zendaya.⁤ moroccan ‌Minister ‍of⁣ Culture, ‍Mehdi Bensaid, welcomed the production, anticipating increased cinematic visibility for ⁣Dakhla as a ‌filming destination.

“Legitimizing Occupation​ and Strengthening Colonialism”

Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony untill 1975, remains a contentious territory. While⁣ Morocco exercises de facto control over much of the region, the United Nations designates it as a non-self-governing territory. A ⁣protracted conflict‌ has⁢ persisted for 50 years between Morocco and the Polisario front separatists,‌ who are supported by Algeria.

Carrion ⁤expressed concern that Nolan’s presence in Western Sahara, particularly⁢ filming on its sand dunes, could ‌be interpreted as legitimizing Morocco’s control and reinforcing colonialism.​ “We had the feeling that the fact that Nolan is there,to turn on a sand dune – when there are so many⁣ other dunes in the world he could have chosen,which are not ⁤in occupied territory – returned to legitimize ‌the occupation and to strengthen colonialism in Western Sahara,” she explained.

Festival’s Plea to Withhold Filmed images

With Christopher Nolan’s filming in Dakhla reportedly concluded, Fisahara is appealing to the festival circuit and media not to utilize the images captured in the region.

“He did not obtain ‍the⁤ agreement of⁤ the Sahrawis to film or to use these images. He obtained the agreement⁣ of an occupying power, which does ​not constitute a real agreement,” Carrion insisted. She further suggested that the director and his team may not have been ‌”correctly‍ informed” about the complex political context of western Sahara.

Rabat proposes an autonomy plan for the vast desert territory under its sovereignty, considering ⁤it an integral part of the Kingdom. Conversely, the Polisario Front continues to advocate ⁢for​ a ‌self-determination referendum​ for the Sahrawi people.