The Casablanca Arab Film Festival aims for excellence despite limited resources
Fatima Al-Nawali Azar, president of the “Extension for Culture and Development” association that organizes the Casablanca Arab Film Festival, expressed her ambition for this cinematic event to rise to the level of the most prominent Arab festivals, despite challenges posed by limited financial resources.
During a press conference held yesterday, Wednesday, at the Marriott hotel in Casablanca, she stated that this sixth edition seeks to present a quality program through a careful selection of the films participating in the official competitions, whether narrative or documentary, long or short.
Al-Nawali Azar emphasized that the festival remains open to all Arab cinematic productions without exclusion, which is evident in the commitment to represent various Arab countries. She believes that this diversity reflects the spirit of openness on which the festival is based.
Furthermore, she noted that the selection of juries and honorees is done with the same precision. This year, the festival will honor Egyptian actor Ahmed Helmy for his wide popularity and esteemed artistic stature, as well as Moroccan artist Younes Makri in recognition of his rich and diverse artistic career.
Mohamed El-Jawhari, director of Casablanca Events and Exhibitions (Casa Events), stated that the Casablanca Arab Film Festival is not just a cinematic event; it is a cultural appointment for all Casablanca residents, targeting various neighborhoods of the city through film screenings, training workshops, and masterclasses aimed at bringing the seventh art closer to the local audience.
He stressed that Casa Events and the city council are key pillars for the success of this cultural event, which aims to enhance the cinematic presence in the economic capital.
The Casablanca Arab Film Festival is organized by the “Extension for Culture and Development” association in partnership with the city council and with the support of the Moroccan Cinematic Center. In previous editions, the festival has hosted numerous stars and filmmakers from various Arab countries, including Hussein Fahmy, Ayman Zidan, Dawood Hussein, Khairy Beshara, Fadi Abi Samra, and Reda Bahe, reinforcing its position as a cultural event aiming for further prominence in the future.
