
Moroccan Cinema Center Supports 29 Film Festivals with Over MAD 6.7 Million
Rabat – Morocco's Cinema Center (CCM) has announced that it will provide financial support worth MAD 6.77 million to 29 film festivals and events across the country.
The decision came after the support committee reviewed 31 applications and listened to presentations from festival organizers on April 3 and 4 in Rabat.
The CCM released a statement explaining the decisions made by the support committee, which is led by Khadija Alami El Alaoui and includes a group of cinema professionals.
Among the largest grants was MAD 1.3 million allocated to the 30th Tetouan Mediterranean Film Festival, and MAD 1.2 million to the 25th Khouribga African Cinema Festival. The International Animation Film Festival in Meknes also received strong support, with a grant of MAD 600,000.
Other notable grants include MAD 700,000 dirhams for the 13th Dakhla International Film Festival, MAD 300,000 for the 4th Casablanca Independent Cinema Festival, MAD 250,000 for the 6th Casablanca Arab Film Festival, and MAD 200,000 for the 13th Assa National Desert Film Festival.
Smaller festivals also received support, such as the 9th 'Camera Kids' National Film Festival in Rabat (MAD 120,000). In addition, MAD 100,000 was allocated for both the Al Hoceima International Film Festival and the 10th Oujda Amateur Film Festival, and MAD 80,000 for the 11th Ras Sbarteil International Film Festival in Tangier and the 7th Tafoukt Amazigh Cinema Festival in Tifrouine.
Other smaller events received between MAD 50,000 and 60,000 in funding.
These festivals are organized by various cultural and cinema associations across Moroccan cities, including Casablanca, Tangier, Tetouan, Fez, Oujda, and more. The support aims to encourage cultural diversity, support local cinema, and promote education through film.
The government has continuously vowed to support the country's growing cinema sector and help regional festivals flourish.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Morocco World
19-05-2025
- Morocco World
French Culture Minister Visits Moroccan Pavilion at Cannes Film Festival
Rabat — French Culture Minister Rachida Dati made a visit on Sunday to Morocco's pavilion at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, which is currently running from May 13-24. The visit gave young Moroccan filmmakers selected for the Morocco-France co-production workshop a chance to meet Dati. The Moroccan emerging talents presented their fiction and animation feature film projects during the French minister visit. In a statement to Morocco's central news agency (MAP), Dati said it was 'a pleasure to visit the Moroccan pavilion, which always welcomes many people and is very open.' Morocco's Secretary-General of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication Abdelaziz El Bouzdaini, and the President of the French National Center for Cinema and Animation (CNC), Gaetan Bruel, joined the minister during the visit. Speaking of cinema cooperation between Morocco and France, Dati recalled that the agreement signed last year with Moroccan Minister Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid is already showing results. She said that the professional young Moroccans benefited from the agreement and 'received joint support from Moroccan Cinema Center (CCM) and its French counterpart.' Moroccan youth engagement in gaming, video, and animation film sectors received commend from the minister, describing the sectors as 'high-growth' areas in Morocco. 'This expertise is very special, and we in France could also benefit from it.' 'This is a cooperation between equals where we have much to gain,' Dati added. She suggested it was time to consider the next steps, as 'we are already very advanced' one year after signing the agreement. Read also: The Promises and Perils of Morocco's Cinematic Renaissance El Bouzdaini, who also serves as interim director of CCM, explained that following the bilateral agreement signed in 2024, a joint call for applications was launched months ago. Out of about twenty projects received, five were selected, mostly from young directors working on their first or second films. 'Business-to-business meetings were organized today alongside the Festival,' allowing these project leaders to meet with about fifteen co-producers to discuss collaboration opportunities, he said. Two projects were presented to the minister, namely a 3D animated feature film and a more traditional cinema project that incorporates artificial intelligence elements with a nod to animation. Morocco has a strong presence at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, with a pavilion set up by the CCM at the international village and a stand at the film market dedicated to promoting Moroccan cinema. Tags: 78th Cannes Film FestivalCannes festivalMoroccan cinemaMorocco France


Ya Biladi
13-05-2025
- Ya Biladi
Morocco's 2025 festival season : Dates, headliners, and highlights
The festival season is kicking off in Morocco this mid-May and will run through the summer. With a diverse lineup of music genres ranging from pop and jazz to rap and traditional Gnaoua, the 2025 festival season offers something for every music lover. Whether you're a casual festival-goer, a music enthusiast, or a tourist planning your summer holiday around music festivals, this article is for you. Yabiladi will be listing some of the major festivals taking place this season, their locations, and their headliners. A Strong Start This festival season kicks off with several events in mid-May. The first major event is the Timeless Festival in Casablanca, blending nostalgia, especially for millennials and early 2000s teens, with today's music scene. The Timeless Festival takes place on May 16 and 17, 2025, at Anfa Park. It promises «iconic sounds from the 1980s to today in an electrifying atmosphere», according to the organizers. The first day, starting at 6 p.m., will feature French-Moroccan rapper La Fouine followed by early 2000s R&B star Craig David. The second day will showcase global dancehall icon Sean Paul and Moroccan-Canadian artist Beny Adam, known for his blend of R&B, pop, and urban sounds. The festival will also feature DJ sets, interactive zones, and a food court to keep the vibes alive. Tickets start at 600 MAD for one-day passes. Not far from Casablanca, the Timelapse Festival 's third edition will be held on May 23-24 in Bouznika. This electro music festival boasts a stellar lineup, with Italian DJ Moblack, a pioneer of Afro-house, on the first day. The second day will feature Casablanca duo DJs Nomads, known for «blending deep, soulful beats with the pulse of Morocco». The festival will also showcase local talent with DJs Didiss and Bouta in a back-to-back session and a B3B trio featuring DJs Caiiro Da Capo and Enoo Napa. Tickets for Timelapse Fest start at 600 MAD for a one-day pass, and accommodations are available at The View Bouznika Hotel. A Spiritual Experience in Fès If you're looking for a spiritual musical experience, we recommend the 28th edition of the Sacred Music of the World Festival in Fès, from May 16 to 24. This year's theme, «Renaissances», celebrates cultural, spiritual, and artistic renewal. The festival will host over 200 artists from 15 countries, including Turkey, France, Spain, Switzerland, the Sultanate of Oman, and several African nations such as Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo. The program includes performances like Azerbaijani Mugham and Kazakh Songs of the Steppes (May 21), Armenian music by The Naghash Ensemble (May 23), Senegalese Sufism with Mouride Khassaide chants (May 19), and Moroccan master Jojoukas (May 18). Other highlights include Tariqa Tijjanya (May 20) and Aissaoua (May 21). While most concerts are free, some are paid, with prices ranging from 150 MAD to 500 MAD. As May wraps up, Rabat will host the second edition of the Summer Sound Festival from May 29 to 31. Held at Club Wifaq in the leafy Ambassadors district, the festival promises a diverse musical lineup, including headliners: Eliades Ochoa (May 29), a legendary Cuban musician and member of the Buena Vista Social Club; Franglish (May 30), a rising star blending Afropop and R&B and Ninho (May 31), one of the most influential names in contemporary French rap. Ticket prices range from 400 MAD for a one-day pass to 1300 MAD for a three-day pass. Rap fans will also have their own festival in Morocco this season: the 212'FlowFest, taking place on May 15-17 at Salle Renaissance in Rabat. The lineup will feature top Moroccan rap stars such as L'Morphine, Mister You, Snor, Shobee, and Dada, alongside rising local talents. Tickets for this festival start at 400 MAD for a one-day pass and can go up to 5000 MAD for a VIP all-access three-day pass. Nostalgia in Casablanca For fans of retro music, the Nostalgia Lovers Festival returns for its second edition in Casablanca from July 3 to 5. The event will take place at the city's converted Velodrome, bringing back the energy of the 80s and 90s with legendary artists and DJs. The first day will feature electrifying performances by 1990s British dance-pop band Londonbeat and electronic music star Rozalla. The second day will keep the party going with Lou Bega, known for his 1999 hit «Mambo No. 5». The third day promises an explosive finale with Brazilian diva Salomé de Bahia and American group C+C Music Factory. Tickets range from 590 MAD for a one-day pass to 1590 MAD for a three-day pass. Gnaoua Festival in Essaouira June brings another major festival: The 26th edition of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival, taking place from June 19 to 21 in Essaouira. This year's edition will feature 33 Gnaoua Maâlems alongside international artists. Maâlem Khalid Sansi from Casablanca will perform with Cuban funk artist Cimafunk, while Maâlem Morad ElMarjan will collaborate with Tunisian oud master Dhafer Youssef. Other highlights include Asmaa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou with Malian singer Rokia Koné, and Nigerian singer Ckay, embracing Afrobeat. Tickets for VIP access are available for 1200 MAD for a three-day pass. Mawazine Returns to Rabat From June 20 to 28, Rabat will host the 20th edition of the Mawazine Festival. Spanning six stages, five in Rabat and one in Sale, the festival promises a diverse lineup, including American rapper 50 Cent (June 21), reggae icon Julian Marley (June 28), Egyptian pop star Ruby (June 20), and K-pop group aespa (June 24). Other headliners include Will Smith (June 25), Kid Cudi (June 23), and Moroccan rap star El Grande Toto. The concerts are for free with paid VIP access available. Back to Casablanca, Jazzablanca 2025 is set to light up the city from July 3 to 12. This year's lineup includes big names like the Black-Eyed Peas, the soulful Seal, the legendary Kool & the Gang, and Grammy-nominated Lebanese trumpet virtuoso Ibrahim Maalouf. But that's not all – Moroccan stars like Oum, Hamid El Kasri, and Mehdi Nassouli will also take the stage, showcasing the rich local talent. The festival will be held at the Anfa Park with tickets ranging from 600 MAD per day to a 3000 MAD full pass.


Morocco World
05-04-2025
- Morocco World
Moroccan Cinema Center Supports 29 Film Festivals with Over MAD 6.7 Million
Rabat – Morocco's Cinema Center (CCM) has announced that it will provide financial support worth MAD 6.77 million to 29 film festivals and events across the country. The decision came after the support committee reviewed 31 applications and listened to presentations from festival organizers on April 3 and 4 in Rabat. The CCM released a statement explaining the decisions made by the support committee, which is led by Khadija Alami El Alaoui and includes a group of cinema professionals. Among the largest grants was MAD 1.3 million allocated to the 30th Tetouan Mediterranean Film Festival, and MAD 1.2 million to the 25th Khouribga African Cinema Festival. The International Animation Film Festival in Meknes also received strong support, with a grant of MAD 600,000. Other notable grants include MAD 700,000 dirhams for the 13th Dakhla International Film Festival, MAD 300,000 for the 4th Casablanca Independent Cinema Festival, MAD 250,000 for the 6th Casablanca Arab Film Festival, and MAD 200,000 for the 13th Assa National Desert Film Festival. Smaller festivals also received support, such as the 9th 'Camera Kids' National Film Festival in Rabat (MAD 120,000). In addition, MAD 100,000 was allocated for both the Al Hoceima International Film Festival and the 10th Oujda Amateur Film Festival, and MAD 80,000 for the 11th Ras Sbarteil International Film Festival in Tangier and the 7th Tafoukt Amazigh Cinema Festival in Tifrouine. Other smaller events received between MAD 50,000 and 60,000 in funding. These festivals are organized by various cultural and cinema associations across Moroccan cities, including Casablanca, Tangier, Tetouan, Fez, Oujda, and more. The support aims to encourage cultural diversity, support local cinema, and promote education through film. The government has continuously vowed to support the country's growing cinema sector and help regional festivals flourish.