Organized from September 3 to 7 at the initiative of the Sawt Al Jabal Foundation for heritage and sustainable development in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region and the Center Moroccan cinematographic, this cultural event aims to be an opportunity to bring cinema closer to the population in this region with a rich heritage, but where the artistic offer still remains limited.
The 2nd edition of this festival which aims to promote the 7th art as a lever for local economic and social development is part of the High Royal Guidelines aimed at promoting and protecting the cultural heritage of Morocco and raising public awareness of environmental issues. and the need to preserve natural heritage and promote sustainable development initiatives in rural areas throughout the Kingdom.
The Festival will offer a varied program over five days including a film competition, open-air screenings on the public square of Ouzoud, as well as conferences and masterclasses led by film professionals and renowned directors.
The official competition will see the screening of internationally renowned feature films, short films and documentary films, in the presence of prestigious guests from Africa, Europe and Asia.
The opening ceremony of this cinematographic event took place in the presence of the Minister Delegate in charge of digital transition and administrative reform, Ghita Mezzour, the Secretary General of the Department of Culture, the Wali of the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region, the Secretary General of the prefecture of the province of Azilal, the president of the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region, local elected officials, as well as several personalities from the world of cinema and art.
Speaking on this occasion, the President of the Festival, Bahija Simou said she was honored by the organization of the International Mountain Cinema Festival in its second edition, recalling the Foundation’s unfailing commitment to contributing to registering the province of Azilal in particular and the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region in general in a cultural and economic dynamic which relies on cinema as a lever for development.
This is about highlighting the region’s assets and promoting it as an attractive destination for producers and directors, said Ms. Simou, also president of the Sawt Al Jabal Foundation for Heritage and Development. sustainable, recalling the Speech delivered by HM King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the Throne Day, which presents strong responses to the importance of preserving and rationalizing the use of water resources in a sustainable manner.
Ms. Simou recalled the imperative to think about innovative solutions to preserve this precious commodity in addition to promoting alternatives likely to improve the livelihoods of this mountainous region and to adapt to the water crisis which is unfolding. imposed.
It is in this perspective, continues the president of the Foundation, that the idea was born of creating a film festival which will focus on the mountain not only as a geographical space, but also as a tangible and intangible heritage, explaining that cinema, apart from its recreational vocation, constitutes a first-class economic tool which contributes to the promotion of sustainable development in rural areas by housing cinematographic and television productions, which is likely to improve infrastructure and offer new employment opportunities in addition to upgrading young people in this field.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Secretary General of the Department of Culture, the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid affirmed that the organization of this Festival in Ouzoud denotes the interest shown by the Kingdom to the development of mountainous areas and its commitment to laying the foundations for cinematographic culture in these areas.
He recalled the project to open 150 cinemas nationwide as a project which aims to democratize access to cinema at the national level, recalling that cinema and culture constitute the bases of all development.
He praised the Foundation for its colossal efforts to promote culture through the launch of several initiatives aimed at promoting the region’s influence and highlighting its potential, as evidenced by this Festival, which aims to promote cinema in the service of development.
During this edition which gives pride of place to mountain cinema as a catalyst for development, a strong tribute was paid to the filmmaker Mohamed Abderrahmane Tazi, the actress Naima Lemcharki and the screenwriter and actor of Amazigh cinema Ahmed Ntama in recognition of their sacrifices and their distinguished professional and personal journeys in the service of the influence of the 7th Moroccan art.
It should be remembered that the jury for the feature film is chaired by French producer Freddy Denaës, while that for the documentary will be led by Moroccan director Narjiss Nejjar.
According to the Foundation, selected films, with a universal character, place particular emphasis on themes linked to the mountain and its space, and explore with deep sensitivity the links between humans and nature, while inviting the viewer to a reflection on its role in the preservation of its natural habitat. A Panorama of Moroccan films in the presence of directors and actors completes the rich program of the festival.
As for the conferences, they will explore the means by which cinema can constitute a lever of development for mountainous regions, by giving a voice to producers and directors who have chosen to film in the Azilal region by capitalizing on its natural assets and its cultural heritage.
It should be remembered that the opening ceremony started with folk musical sounds which highlight the cultural traditions of the region.