Speaking during the 30th edition of the European Film Weeks, Ms. Llombart Cussac stressed that this cultural project, which began in 1991, reflects the “growing ambition” of Morocco and the EU for continued cooperation in the cultural field, adding that this cultural high mass is enhanced this year by a strong female presence, both in terms of production and interpretation.
In this sense, she specified that more than half of the screenings of this 30th edition are produced by women, noting that the programming of this event grants, as usual, an important place to youth, with a film dedicated to children.
Addressing other cooperation projects between Morocco and the EU, Ms. Llombart Cussac, noted that Rabat will host the Jazz au Chellah Festival, also recalling that the two parties have launched, this year, a major work program around cultural industries and creative, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication.
“We also work with associations in Morocco, notably the Ali Zaoua Foundation and the Hiba Foundation around the cinema, art and culture professions in general, to attract Moroccan talents, contribute to development efforts and promote “youth employment”, she assured.
Attracting nearly 12,000 spectators each year, the European Film Weeks illustrate European, Moroccan and Mediterranean excellence in the field of art and culture, and offer a unique opportunity to promote and strengthen intercultural dialogue, through screenings, meetings between Moroccan and European filmmakers and workshops dedicated to the discovery of cinema professions for young people.
For this 30th edition, this event offers a wide variety of films, namely “Anatomy of a Fall” by Justine Triet (France), “La Chimère” by Alice Rohnwacher (Italy), “Club Zéro” by Jessica Hausner ( Austria, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Denmark), “Explanation for everything” by Gabor Reisz (Hungary, Slovakia), “Dead leaves” by Aki Kaurismäki (Finland), the “Teachers’ Room” by Ilker Çatak (Germany) ), “20,000 species of bees” by Estibaliz Urresola Solguren (Spain), and “Sirocco and the Kingdom of air currents” by Benoît Chieux (Belgium, France).
In the short film category, moviegoers will have the opportunity to discover the films “Ayyur” by Zineb Wakrim (Morocco), “Et Si Le Soleil Plongeait Dans l’Océan Des Nues” by Wissam Charaf (Lebanon) and “Sur La Tomb of My Father” by Jawahine Zentar (Morocco).
The European Film Weeks have been organized since 1991 by the European Union in Morocco, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Moroccan Cinematographic Center, the Hiba Foundation and the Higher School of Visual Arts from Marrakech.