
Morocco Allocates Over MAD 25 Million to Support 40 Film Festivals
The funding was approved during the second round of 2025 committee meetings held between July 22-25 at the CCM headquarters in Rabat.
The support comes after the committee evaluated 49 applications submitted for this cycle.
Organizers were invited to present and defend their projects before the selection committee, which reviewed both artistic merit and structural coherence.
At the top of the list is the Marrakech International Film Festival (22nd edition), which received the largest single grant of MAD 12 million, reinforcing its role as Morocco's most prestigious cinematic event.
It was followed by the National Film Festival in Tangier (25th edition), which secured MAD 7.5 million, and the International Women's Film Festival of Salé (18th edition), with a grant of MAD 1 million.
The Rabat International Author Film Festival (30th edition) received MAD 800,000, while the Maghreb International Film Festival in Oujda (14th edition) was granted MAD 450,000.
Other beneficiaries include the International Mountain Film Festival in Ouzoud (3rd edition) and the International Desert Film Festival in Zagora (19th edition), each awarded MAD 300,000.
Additional grants included: MAD 250,000 for the Nador International Festival for Cinema and Shared Memory
MAD 200,000 for both the Tetouan International Film Schools Festival and Agadir's International Migration Film Festival
Between MAD 100,000 and 190,000 for a dozen other regional festivals including those in Sidi Kacem, Settat, and Tangier.
Smaller festivals across Morocco also benefited. Events in Fez, Tiznit, Taza, Guelmim, and Imouzzer Kandar, many of which focus on youth cinema, social themes, or Amazigh identity, received grants ranging from MAD 50,000 to 100,000.
The lowest amount, MAD 30,000, was granted to the Cinema and History Forum in Khouribga.
This funding round reaffirms Morocco's institutional commitment to supporting the diversity of its cinematic landscape, from high-profile international events to grassroots festivals fostering local talent and niche storytelling. Tags: Film FestivalsMoroccoMorocco's Center for Cinematographic Studies
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Morocco World
06-08-2025
- Morocco World
Morocco Allocates Over MAD 25 Million to Support 40 Film Festivals
Marrakech – Morocco's Center for Cinematographic Studies (CCM) has announced the allocation of MAD 25.84 million in public funding to support 40 film festivals and cinematic events across the country. The funding was approved during the second round of 2025 committee meetings held between July 22-25 at the CCM headquarters in Rabat. The support comes after the committee evaluated 49 applications submitted for this cycle. Organizers were invited to present and defend their projects before the selection committee, which reviewed both artistic merit and structural coherence. At the top of the list is the Marrakech International Film Festival (22nd edition), which received the largest single grant of MAD 12 million, reinforcing its role as Morocco's most prestigious cinematic event. It was followed by the National Film Festival in Tangier (25th edition), which secured MAD 7.5 million, and the International Women's Film Festival of Salé (18th edition), with a grant of MAD 1 million. The Rabat International Author Film Festival (30th edition) received MAD 800,000, while the Maghreb International Film Festival in Oujda (14th edition) was granted MAD 450,000. Other beneficiaries include the International Mountain Film Festival in Ouzoud (3rd edition) and the International Desert Film Festival in Zagora (19th edition), each awarded MAD 300,000. Additional grants included: MAD 250,000 for the Nador International Festival for Cinema and Shared Memory MAD 200,000 for both the Tetouan International Film Schools Festival and Agadir's International Migration Film Festival Between MAD 100,000 and 190,000 for a dozen other regional festivals including those in Sidi Kacem, Settat, and Tangier. Smaller festivals across Morocco also benefited. Events in Fez, Tiznit, Taza, Guelmim, and Imouzzer Kandar, many of which focus on youth cinema, social themes, or Amazigh identity, received grants ranging from MAD 50,000 to 100,000. The lowest amount, MAD 30,000, was granted to the Cinema and History Forum in Khouribga. This funding round reaffirms Morocco's institutional commitment to supporting the diversity of its cinematic landscape, from high-profile international events to grassroots festivals fostering local talent and niche storytelling. Tags: Film FestivalsMoroccoMorocco's Center for Cinematographic Studies


Morocco World
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Controversial Film Kiss Sparks Outcry and Legal Action in Morocco
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Morocco World
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Marrakech Gears Up for Moroccan Pink Floyd Show's Most Innovative Performance Yet
Casablanca – As Morocco's music scene continues to stretch the limits of what local artistry can achieve, the Moroccan Pink Floyd Show returns with its most ambitious appearance yet. Set to take place on June 28 at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, Mövenpick Mansour Eddahbi Marrakech, the concert promises an immersive sonic and visual experience that reimagines the legacy of Pink Floyd through a Moroccan lens. Led by Fayçal Tadlaoui and Yonnel Lallouz, the Moroccan Pink Floyd Show isn't just a tribute, it's a full show, a whole experience, a cultural statement. With over 60 Moroccan technicians and artists involved in this project, the production will feature, for the first time, the prestigious Choeur du Chambre du Maroc conducted by Amine Hadef, bringing 20 lyric voices to the stage. Joining them as a special guest is Moroccan icon Ahmed Soultan, who will perform a Pink Floyd classic alongside lead singer Fayçal. 'We want to show people that Moroccan artists can deliver a show at this scale,' Fayçal told Morocco World News at an exclusive pre-show event. 'The show is entirely Moroccan, from the performers to the sound engineers.' That vision comes with its price. Co-produced by Touareg Prod, Ligne Rouge Productions, and Radio Factory, the event cost nearly MAD 1 million ($100,000) to produce, with MAD 800,000 ($80,000) going solely into technical execution and equipment. Despite the scale, the show remains entirely self-funded. 'We are amateurs who want to deliver a professional show,' Fayçal said. 'We have no sponsors yet, but we're still going all in.' Co-producer Pierre Grevesse and CEO of Ligne Rouge Productions echoed the sentiment: 'Our objective is to professionalize this group and take them to the next level, international… In one year, we've done 14 concerts. This year, we're preparing for a full African tour for 2026. First we start from Africa, then we go international.' The Palais des Festivals et des Congrès itself has become a key cultural anchor in Marrakech, with its marketing director quoted in a press release describing it as 'a place of convergence between the national and international artistic scene and the city of Marrakech.' Hosting the Moroccan Pink Floyd Show for a third time is not just a logistical decision but a cultural mission. 'This is a unique concept that resonates with both local audiences and international visitors,' the director said, emphasizing the venue's role in shaping Marrakech's identity as a global cultural destination. Fayçal Tadlaoui and Yonnel Lallouz The group's popularity continues to surge both locally and abroad. The last two Marrakech editions sold out the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès venue, and this year's efforts and new strategy are expected to attract an even larger audience, including tourists . 'The first edition was 80-85% Moroccan. The second time, we brought in 400 tourists,' said Fayçal. 'Now we're getting messages on social media from Portugal and the Netherlands, etc…people are flying in to attend.' What sets the Moroccan Pink Floyd Show apart is not just its scale, but its sound. From classic and progressive rock to heavy metal influences, Moroccan instrumentation to classical harmony, the band fuses cultures and genres strengthening their musical identity. Songs like 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' and 'Hey You' are reinterpreted with Oud and even a custom Outar built by band member Anas Chlih. Chorale arrangements will flow through every track, thanks to the Choeur du Chambre du Maroc's 'precise vocals' as Fayçal described. The show's technicians are just as proudly Moroccan as the musicians on stage. Fayçal insists: 'They are not just technicians, they're artists.' From the sound engineers to the lighting designers, each plays an integral part in creating the show's full experience. Of the dozens involved in the band, only three are full-time professional musicians. The rest live two lives and share one thing: a love for the music they perform. 'We all have jobs and families,' Fayçal told journalists, adding, 'People used to laugh at the idea of a Moroccan tribute band… They said, 'Are they going to play with tagines?' But when they come, they leave stunned.' When asked about their audience, Fayçal told MWN that 'It's transgenerational. Our audience goes from 8 to 88,' He added 'We have Francophones, Arabic speakers, tourists, young people, old people, and they all know the lyrics. They remind me of British audiences. Extremely demanding when it comes to sound and performance. That pushes us to deliver at the highest level.' The group has even bigger plans ahead. Starting in 2026, the band will embark on an African tour, with dreams of one day performing in the dunes of Dakhla or Merzouga. 'That would be an image for Morocco that is absolutely incredible,' Fayçal said. So, how do we go? Tickets for the June 28 performance range from 100 MAD ($10) (student rate) to 400 MAD ($40) with four seating tiers available: Orchestra, Mezzanine 1 & 2, and Balcony all available on The band told MWN that student discounts are non-negotiable to keep the shows accessible for younger generations. The show starts at 9 p.m. Moroccan time. Not before, not after. In a cultural landscape still recovering from years of infrastructural and financial gaps, the Moroccan Pink Floyd Show stands as proof of how far Morocco has come. 'Twenty-five years ago, you couldn't even buy guitar strings here,' said Fayçal. 'Now we have music stores, young bands, festivals, and more.' Tags: Moroccan Pink FloydMusicnostalgiatribute band