Latest news with #Morocco-France
Ya Biladi
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Ya Biladi
French Culture Minister visits Moroccan pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival
French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati visited the Moroccan pavilion during the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, held from May 13 to 24. She was accompanied by Abdelaziz El Bouzdaini, Secretary General of the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, and Gaëtan Bruel, President of the French Center for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC). This visit is part of the film co-production agreement signed on May 18, 2024, between Morocco and France, aimed at supporting the emergence of young Moroccan filmmakers. The Morocco-France co-production workshop provided a platform for young Moroccan talents to present their fiction and animation feature film projects, facilitating professional meetings with French producers. Rachida Dati emphasized the importance of cultural cooperation between the two countries, particularly in cinema and animation. She also highlighted the commitment of young Moroccans in the growing sectors of gaming, video, and animated films. For his part, Abdelaziz El Bouzdaini noted that the bilateral agreement has already yielded concrete results, with five projects selected through a call for applications, mostly led by young directors. B2B meetings were organized to enable project leaders to engage with co-producers. Two projects were presented to Rachida Dati: a 3D animated feature film and a movie incorporating elements of artificial intelligence. Morocco is strongly represented at this edition of the Cannes Film Festival, with a pavilion at the International Village and a stand at the Film Market to promote Moroccan cinema.
Morocco World
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- 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
Morocco World
17-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
France Opens World's First House for Alumni of French Higher Education in Morocco
Rabat – Christophe Lecourtier, the French Ambassador to Morocco, inaugurated the world's first House for Alumni of French Higher Education on Friday. The launch event gathered over 300 Moroccan alumni who had pursued their higher education in France. According to a statement from the French Embassy in Morocco, the new center marks the official launch of the third edition of the Global Alumni Days in Morocco. The initiative aims to strengthen ties with Moroccan graduates from French institutions and enhance the role of alumni in promoting bilateral cooperation. The House for Alumni is part of a broader ambition to structure and energize the network of graduates from French higher education, added the statement. Developed in consultation with several alumni associations, such as Sciences Po Paris, HEC, ESSEC, ESCP, EMLyon, École des Ponts et Chaussées, and Audencia, the center will serve as a unified headquarters symbolizing the educational and cultural partnership between France and Morocco. The embassy says this initiative is the first of its kind globally, designed to be a hub for talent development, professional integration, intergenerational dialogue, and mentorship. The project also reflects France's commitment to promoting its higher education system abroad while fostering synergy between academic, economic, and cultural stakeholders. The inauguration ceremony The House, the statement adds, is also part of a broader, robust bilateral dynamic, reflected in the presence of 45,000 Moroccan students currently enrolled in French institutions, the largest group of foreign students in France. This educational connection receives support from the Mobility Visa Scheme, introduced in May 2024 during the previous Global Alumni Days. In just one year, more than 2,000 Moroccan alumni have benefited from the program that facilitates smoother professional and personal mobility between the two countries. The opening of the alumni center also marked the kickoff of this year's Global Alumni Days in Morocco, organized by Campus France Maroc, with events scheduled in Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Fez, and Tangier. This new initiative comes in the wake of a notable improvement in Morocco-France relations. Ties between the two countries have grown significantly stronger, especially following France's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara. Since then, diplomatic and cultural exchanges have accelerated and paved the way for renewed cooperation across multiple sectors. Tags: alumniHigher EducationMorocco and France
Morocco World
26-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
French Delegation Visits Dakhla to Explore Business Opportunities, Strengthen Cooperation
Rabat – A French delegation, led by the Mayor of Montpellier Michael Delafosse, visited the southern Moroccan city of Dakhla on Friday to explore business opportunities and discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the two regions. During the visit, the French delegation learned about major development projects and discovered the economic potential of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region. The visit also focused on plans to boost cooperation between the city of Dakhla and Montpellier, with a cooperation and friendship agreement expected to be signed soon. Speaking to the press, Delafosse commended the development of the region under the leadership of King Mohammed VI. He said that the long-standing relations between Morocco and France are gaining new momentum, driven by the shared commitment of the two countries' leaders. He added that local governments and economic, cultural, and sports actors will help strengthen this cooperation even further. Delafosse announced that the upcoming agreement will focus on supporting water sports, promoting cultural exchange through festivals, and encouraging sustainable economic projects, especially in renewable energy. Meanwhile, the President of Dakhla's local council, Erragheb Hormatallah, said that the visit aims to build strong, practical ties between the two cities. He added that the cooperation agreement is part of a broader effort to deepen bilateral relations, especially after France's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara region. Morocco-France relations gained new momentum after French President Emmanuel Macron announced his country's support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, as well as endorsed its Autonomy Plan. During their stay, the French delegation held meetings with senior officials, including the Secretary-General of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, Abdelrazzak El Kourji, and Vice President of the Regional Council, Moulay Boutal El M'Barki, as well as Monir El Houari, Director of the Regional Investment Center. The delegation was informed about the region's development in different sectors and ongoing major infrastructure projects aimed at connecting the region and boosting its potential. They also explored investment opportunities and the incentives available for investors. As part of the visit, the delegation toured several important sites, including the construction site of Dakhla Atlantic Port, the Higher Institute of Audiovisual and Cinema Professions, and the future site of MGH Energie, a company specializing in green energy and e-fuel production.
Morocco World
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Morocco's FM Visits France for Key Talks on Strengthening Morocco-France Partnership
Rabat – Nasser Bourita, Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs, is visiting France today for a working trip, following an invitation from Jean-Noël Barrot, France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. This visit is a continuation of efforts to strengthen the Enhanced Exceptional Partnership, a bond sealed in a Declaration signed on October 28, 2024, in Rabat by King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron. The trip will be a significant moment to take stock of the progress of this partnership, with the two ministers seeking to advance the common objectives within their agreement. Morocco-France relations have reached new heights over the past few months, particularly after French President Emmanuel Macron's official visit to Morocco in October 2024. During his visit, Macron delivered a powerful speech in Morocco's parliament, where he pointed to the strength of the two countries' bilateral ties and acknowledged Morocco's territorial integrity as the only viable solution to the Western Sahara dispute. This statement, coupled with increased diplomatic and economic collaboration, reflects the growing partnership between Morocco and France and reinforces their shared strategic interests. In a continued effort to strengthen ties, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau arrived in Rabat on Sunday evening for a brief but significant visit aimed at reinforcing security cooperation and migration management between France and Morocco. Retailleau's trip, planned for just a few hours on Monday, comes at a crucial juncture for France. The country is navigating complex diplomatic dynamics in North Africa, with growing ties to Morocco contrasting with deteriorating relations with Algeria. During the visit, Retailleau and his Moroccan counterpart, Abdelouafi Laftit, disclosed the creation of a French-Moroccan working group focused on verifying the nationality of irregular migrants in France, intending to facilitate their readmission to their countries of origin. With Morocco and France's diplomatic ties at an all-time high, marked by high-level visits, productive talks, and even Morocco's honored presence at the Paris Book Festival, there is every reason to believe that this pair will continue to tighten their union.
