The Maghreb Film Festival, organised by the Ciné-Maghreb Association, returns in its fourth edition, from 7 to 11 April at the Mohammed VI Theatre in Oujda, on the theme of "Maghreb cinema between culture and development prospects". This edition will be dedicated to the memory of the academic and film critic the late Mohamed Dahane.
Twenty-four short films from the five countries of the Arab Maghreb will be in the running for the festival's Prizes, judged by a Maghreb commission made up of professionals from the sector, notably Lahcen Zinoun, as president of the jury, surrounded by the Algerian director Ahmed Rachedi, the Libyan researcher Salaheddin Ghuweder, the Mauritanian writer Mohamed H’dhana, and the Tunisian actress Rabia Ben Abdallah.
"While remaining faithful to its vocation of promoting the diversity of Maghreb cinema, the festival has other aspirations for a better future. We are proud to count among the best cinematographic performances of Morocco.
Moreover, the subsidy granted to the festival has been revised upwards by 100%. Our goal is to give more influence to Maghreb cinema through the participation of the five countries. This year, we have twenty-four films, including twelve Moroccan and twelve coming from other countries. Our objective, among many others, is to install a cultural and artistic unity of the five countries of the Maghreb. It must be said that art can sometimes do what politics fails to achieve," underlines the festival director, Khalid Sli, who did not fail to specify that this event represented an opportunity to make foreign professionals aware of the assets of the Oriental region, as an ideal set for filming. Hence the opening of the festival, for the first time, to the entire Oriental region through a decentralised programme and a strong presence of artists from all walks of life.
During the five days of the festival, tributes will also be paid to great names in cinema, namely the talented Mohamed Miftah, the Algerian actor Ahmed Quachach, the Moroccan actress Mouna Fettou, and then the local actor and director, Abdel Errazzak Benaissa. Apart from the screenings of Maghreb films, other activities are on the programme through meetings and debates, then a conference on "Maghreb cinema" with professionals of the seventh art, counting among the 120 guests from the countries of the Greater Maghreb and elsewhere. Master classes and training workshops in the various professions linked to cinema will thus be led by Enzo Tibi, Abderrahmane Tazi, Khalil Damoun, Abdelilah Hamdouchi.
The organisers have also planned the programming of eight panoramic screenings, the Ciné’Mouv caravan, Kid’s cinema, and then an educational film within the prison and rehabilitation centre.
