Mohamed El Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, emphasized that the ministry is committed to supporting and developing the film industry in our country through a range of initiatives and measures.
In response to questions from members of the Senate on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, the minister stated that, with regard to strengthening the legal framework, the Council of Ministers has approved Bill No. 18.23 on the film industry and the reorganization of the Moroccan Cinema Center, which has been referred to the House of Representatives and is currently under discussion in committee, with a view to completing the legislative process for its enactment as soon as possible.
Other measures taken include strengthening governance within the Moroccan Cinema Center by implementing the recommendations of regulatory bodies, developing the institution’s programs at various levels, and focusing on studying the proposed new administrative structure of the Moroccan Cinema Center to ensure it aligns with upcoming legislative and regulatory changes.
With regard to strengthening infrastructure and ensuring free competition, 50 movie theaters were opened in cultural centers affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, after they were upgraded for film screenings by equipping them with modern and advanced projection technology. This program is part of a project to establish 150 movie theaters.
The program also aims to upgrade cultural centers and cultural institutions under the Ministry of Culture in order to bring public cinema facilities closer to local communities, with the goal of spreading film culture throughout the Kingdom, providing Moroccan films with new promotional platforms within the country, and encouraging private investment in the film distribution sector by cultivating a new base of cinema-loving audiences. Support was also provided for the construction of new movie theaters to strengthen the theater network, specifically for 25 cinema complexes comprising 40 screens.
Edited by: Sarah Al-Ramshi / Photography by: Yassin Al-Zahrawi
