Organized in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Region of Béni Mellal-Khénifra and the Moroccan Cinematographic Center, 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 offering remains limited, the organizers indicated in a press release.
Stressing that this festival aims to promote the 7th art as a lever for local economic and social development, the foundation noted that the event is part of the royal guidelines aimed at promoting and protecting Morocco’s cultural heritage, raising public awareness of environmental issues and the need to preserve natural heritage and promoting sustainable development initiatives in the rural world throughout the Kingdom.
In this regard, she pointed out that for five days, the event will offer a varied program including a film competition, open-air screenings in the public square of Ouzoud, as well as conferences and masterclasses led by cinema professionals and renowned directors.
“The official competition will see the screening of feature films, short films and documentaries of international renown, in the presence of prestigious guests from Africa, Europe and Asia,” noted the same source, noting that the jury for feature films is chaired by French producer Freddy Denaës, while that for documentaries will be led by Moroccan director Narjiss Nejjar.
Furthermore, the foundation announced that the selected films, which are universal in nature, place particular emphasis on themes related to the mountain and its space, and explore with deep sensitivity the links between humans and nature, while inviting the viewer to reflect on their role in the preservation of their natural habitat.
And to note that tributes will be paid to the filmmaker Mohamed Abderrahmane Tazi, to the actress Naima Lemcharki and to the screenwriter and actor of Amazigh cinema Ahmed Ntama.
A Panorama of Moroccan films in the presence of directors and actors completes the festival’s programming, it was continued.
As for the conferences, they will explore the means by which cinema can constitute a lever of development for mountainous regions, by giving the floor to producers and directors who have chosen to film in the Azilal region by capitalizing on its natural assets and its cultural heritage.
Folklore performances will highlight the region’s cultural traditions, it was concluded.
2024-08-29 03:02:14