Ouarzazate began as a humble stopover for African traders traveling north. In the 16th century, Sheikh Abu al-'Abaas Ahmed al-Warzazi, local emir and father of Lalla Masuda, played a key role in bringing the Sous-Dra’a region under Saadi rule. Once home to a lively Jewish community, about 170 Jews lived in the Mellah in 1954. The nearly 300-year-old Old Synagogue still stands, alongside an unused Jewish cemetery, preserving this rich heritage. During French colonial times, Ouarzazate developed into an important military and administrative hub. The Kasbah Taourirt, former residence of caïd T'hami El Glaoui, remains a major attraction, complemented by a church built in 1931. Ouarzazate featured on the 2006–2007 Dakar Rally route and hosts a significant solar power plant, connected to the national grid in 2016. On November 1, 2023, it earned the prestigious title of UNESCO Creative City.

Just 5 km west of Ouarzazate, Atlas Studios is nestled among stunning desert and mountain scenery. With numerous film sets still intact, it’s a favorite destination for guided tours and movie buffs. Established in 1983 by entrepreneur Mohamed Belghmi, the studio thrives thanks to the area’s consistent climate and unique landscapes, perfectly suited to recreate a wide range of natural settings for filmmakers.

Moroccan cinema, featuring films in Arabic and Tamazight, traces its origins to a 1897 Louis Lumière film. The modern era began with Hamid Bénani’s Wechma (1970), hailed as Morocco’s first landmark movie. Early productions often mirrored Egyptian melodramas before Moroccan filmmakers found their unique voice. In 1982, Farida Bourquia broke new ground as the country’s first female director. The Marrakech International Film Festival, launched in 2001, has since championed Moroccan cinema. Amazigh-language films gained momentum in the mid-2000s with support from the CCM. Since 2020, Moroccan cinema has surged forward. In 2022, it released its first animated features. By 2023, booming production and over 1.1 billion dirhams in foreign investment propelled the industry—though Hollywood still leads the box office.