Marrakech, November 30, 2012 (MAP)
Marrakech, November 30, 2012 (MAP)
The 12th Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM), which kicked off Friday night, “marks a confirmation of the Royal vision” to promote the Moroccan film industry conveyed in the royal message to the National Cinema Conference on October 16, 2012, said Prince Moulay Rachid, President of the Marrakech International Film Festival Foundation.
“For this 12th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM), we have received the greatest of encouragements as well as the clearest possible road-map for the coming years. King Mohammed VI undertook this task himself by addressing a powerful Royal Message to the National Cinema Conference on October 16, 2012, “said Prince Moulay Rachid in an editorial published on the website of the festival.
“For me, who, last year at the 11th FIFM, on behalf of the Festival Foundation, committed myself to taking responsibility “increasingly [for] the future of the nation’s cinema, with its most promising aspects: its creativity and diversity”, what could I hope for more than to be far surpassed in terms of commitment by the august Message from His Majesty indicating the program to follow: walk forward on the path that leads most surely to the greatest expansion of Moroccan cinema, “said Prince Moulay Rachid.
He also added: “now, by a timely coincidence, the fruits of the coordinated efforts of the State, of the FIFM Foundation, and of Moroccan filmmakers have begun to ripen: we have two films in the official Competition, three films in the “Cinema at Heart” section and one film (a great popular success in 2012) screened in tribute to a Moroccan producer of international renown.
Prince Moulay Rachid noted that this year’s edition is “a confirmation of the International strength of the Festival,” for “what other festival, today, can say that at the dawn of the Centenary of Indian Cinema, it has brought together on stage the most outstanding stars of what is called Bollywood – this marvelous stairway to dreams, which is viewed every day by millions of fascinated eyes.”
He went on to say that this year’s edition also confirms that the FIFM managed to “make” a number of friends (these great names in the film industry who return every year to show their friendship) and to acquire significant know-how (the rigor of our movie selection process, the power of our juries and loyalty our audience), and that it looks to the future, filled with two passions: cinema and Morocco.”