The 13th edition of Rabat's "auteur cinema festival" kicked off with tributes to Adel Imam and Ahmed Bouaanani. All this at a time when Moroccan cinemas are closing their doors due to lack of interest by movie-goers and despite an increase in national production. A study released by the Moroccan Film Centre prior to the festival showed nearly 60% of Moroccans do not go to the cinema. The Renaissance cinema in Rabat, which closed in February, is expected to re-open in July to mark the end of the auteur cinema festival.The 13th Auteur Cinema Festival in Rabat kicked off on June 21st with tributes to the famous Egyptian actor Adel Imam (pictured above) and renowned Moroccan director Ahmed Bouaanani.
who were welcomed with a standing ovation from the audience at the Mohammed V Theatre in Rabat. Imam, who starred in numerous comedies both on the silver screen and the stage, is one of the best known actors in the Arab world. Some of his latest films poked fun at the Islamist mindsets in Egypt. Bouaanani is a pioneer of Moroccan auteur cinema. Scheduled to run for 11 days, the festival will also feature sessions on Turkish auteur filmmaker Nuri Bilgecenan and the French version of the genre by Philippe Fauc. The programme plans to act as a window onto world cinema, with films from twelve countries, as well as several Maghreb masterpieces cinema.
Speaking at the tribute ceremony, Imam described the art of filmmaking as the conscience of nations and peoples, representing a bulwark against all forms of extremism. He said he was happy with the tribute, which coincides with the celebration of a century of film-making in Egypt.
Festival chairman Abdelhak Mantrache described Rabat's auteur cinema yearly event as a key event for Moroccan and international film fans, especially since the inauguration of the Grand Prix Hassan II award. He also said that the city plans to turn this auteur cinema festival into an international meeting since this film genre embodies the values of modernity and cultural pluralism.
According to the Ministry of Communication, the festival will earn the Moroccan capital a name as a meeting-place for arts and cultures.
Twenty films will participate in the auteur cinema competition, including two from Morocco. The jury will be presided over by Morocco's Abdelmajid Archich, with 8 other members from Greece, Spain, France, Iran, Guinea and Morocco.
Workshops for young film makers.
Michel Alexandre from France and Moroccans Ali Safi and Hatim Belaabass will host two workshops for young filmmakers on screenwriting and documentary film making respectively.
Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
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