ABDELAZIZ TALEB

Abdelaziz Taleb is a mixed media artist, filmmaker, producer, archival artist, and curator with more than 20 years of experience. After completing his fellowship at the Academy of Media Arts in Cologne  KHM (1999–2001), he embarked on an international filmmaking career. In 2010, he founded the Arab Media Lab (AML), where he develops artists’ programs, innovative projects, discussions, workshops, and training initiatives.

 

In 2003, the World Wide Video Festival recognized Taleb as one of the emerging talents poised to influence the global landscape of video and media art. His films and videos—often described as extensions of his own body—explore poetic visions, inner identity, spiritual purification, and profound social realities. Many of his works have been selected for Academy-accredited film and video festivals, including the Berlinale, Venice International Film Festival, International Film Festival Rotterdam, Festival International du Cinéma Méditerranéen Montpellier, Freewaves Los Angeles, Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, CCCB Barcelona, World Museum Rotterdam, Van Abbemuseum Eindhoven, and Villa des Arts in Casablanca and Rabat, among others.

 

Since its creation in 2010, the Arab Media Lab has focused on film programming, festivals, training, and the exhibition of emerging and established independent artists from Morocco and the broader MENA region. The association offers workshops and training programs dedicated to providing relevant, practical, and up-to-date education in digital media arts. Taleb advocates for a cinema and media arts practice rooted in local contexts—one that opens pathways for Moroccan youth to engage creatively, express themselves in Darija, and break free from psychological and academic barriers. For him, media art is a catalyst for personal transformation and social change.

 

Among AML’s notable achievements is the Digital Marrakech International Festival, which—despite limited arts funding in Morocco—has successfully taken place eight consecutive times. The festival showcases independent and experimental film, creative documentary, video and digital art, video installations, and 3D mapping. Other projects followed, including Planet of the Arabs, Tangier Interzone Series, Media Art Morocco, Rooftop Films Marrakech, Marrakech Unfiltered, and many more.

 

Taleb continues to work as a mixed media artist while curating projects locally and internationally. He also serves as a mentor and jury member for various festivals and institutions, including Berlinale Talents, the Prince Claus Fund, the Cairo Video Art Festival, and others. Most recently, he contributed to the book Archaeology of New Media Arts in the Arab World, published by Diriyah Art Futures and the Museums Commission of Saudi Arabia.