The kick-off of the 11th edition of the "Cinema and Migration" Festival, organised by the Cultural Initiative Association until 15 November, was given on Tuesday evening in Agadir, in the presence of several Moroccan and foreign actors, artists, and directors of different sensibilities.

Speaking at the opening of this event, placed under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI, the Minister in charge of Moroccans Residing Abroad and Migration Affairs, Anis Birou, emphasised the relevance of the theme chosen by this festival, which is blowing out its 11th candle today, representing the age of maturity for a cultural event that has grown thanks to the perseverance of the organisers, the support of partners, and the commitment of associative actors and the academic community. He maintained that the success of this festival, initiated in a region traditionally known as a migration zone, demonstrates an acute awareness of the importance of the subject of migration and its contemporaneity in the field of creation in general and in cinema in particular, since the film industry traces in a way the history of events and depicts the perceptions of Man towards his fellow man.

For his part, the president of the Cultural Initiative Association, Driss Moubarik, indicated that the theme of migration holds a central place in this festival due to the very depth of its presence as a source of inspiration for many writers, artists, and filmmakers.

He noted that the festival management has made it a habit, over the previous editions, to celebrate local Moroccan artists, expatriates, or foreigners who have enriched the national and international film library with their works, while welcoming the commitment of many local stakeholders and sponsors to the adventure of this festival, which is beginning its second decade today.

The opening ceremony, enhanced by the presence of the Wali of the Souss-Massa-Drâa region, Governor of the Agadir-Ida Outanane prefecture Mohamed El Yazid Zellou, the Governor of the Inezgane-Aït Meloul prefecture Hamid Chennouri, local elected officials, deputies, and other civil and military personalities, was embellished with dance and song performances by local troupes, as well as a choreography performed by a troupe from the University of Culture and Arts of the Russian city of Belgorod.