Sahara film fest urges Nolan to drop scenes shot in disputed western territory

The Sahara International Film Festival has called on director Christopher Nolan to exclude scenes filmed in Western Sahara from his upcoming movie, citing concerns over shooting in the disputed territory.

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Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, has been largely controlled by Morocco since 1975 but is considered a non-self-governing territory by the United Nations.

Morocco has long been in conflict with the Algerian-backed Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the Sahrawi people.

"We're calling on Nolan to stand in solidarity with the Sahrawi people," said Maria Carrion, executive director of FiSahara, which takes place in Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria.