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The 18th edition of the Meknès International Animated Film Festival (FICAM) opened on Friday night, with the participation of several directors and producers. This edition will see the participation of 53 short films in official competition. It devotes a focus to the Spanish animation cinema, with the presence of great personalities.
Speaking at the opening of this event, the cultural cooperation adviser at the French Embassy in Rabat, Clélia Chevrier Kolacko, stressed that FICAM has become a major meeting for professionals but also for amateurs and lovers of animated cinema, specifying that the 8th edition has arrived at “the age of maturity”.
“A maturity that allows FICAM to be one of the largest and offer as such to the city of Meknes a real international influence”, she added, noting that it also allows him to present himself as an ” example of success ” of Franco-Moroccan cooperation.
For her part, the director of the French Institute of Meknes, Lyliane Dos Santos, stressed that ” the French Institute of Morocco is building links that build this space of Franco-Moroccan cooperation with the public and partners, through hosting and co-construction projects or stronger events such as FICAM”.
”In 18 years of sharing we are reaching the age of reason! ”, She said, noting that this is ”an event in Meknes that makes the city known internationally and plays a role on the territory of the kingdom, especially among young audiences through the work of education in the image or accompaniment of the emergence of young processionals of tomorrow”.
The President of the Aicha Foundation, Mardochée Devico, for his part, emphasized that FICAM has set itself the goal of promoting the city of Meknes as an Arab and African platform for animation films and to participate in the emergence of young people. Moroccan talents.
He also recalled that FICAM is “highly anticipated” by professionals, young Moroccans passionate about animation, the media, and the general public, stating that the festival gains year by year more notoriety especially with Moroccan students from art and film schools who show a real passion to come to Meknes to meet the greatest film directors and participate in training workshops.
The opening ceremony was marked by the presentation of the grand Aïcha animation prize to the young Meknassi Anas Doujdid and a tribute to Didier Brunner, producer of French films.
The FICAM team received this year more than 300 animated short films from 16 countries with different animation techniques.
A record participation, which translates, according to the organizers, the loyalty of prestigious institutions of global animation, including the Powder Magazine, the Gobelins, the National Film Board of Canada (ONF), the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts of Beirut, Royal College of Art in London and La Geidai (Tokyo University of Art).
Presided by Michael Dudok de Wit, Dutch director (César 1996 for The Monk and the Fish, Oscar in 2001 for Father and Daughter and Special Prize a certain look, Cannes Festival, in 2016 for The Red Turtle), the Jury of the ‘Courts Compet’ also includes Samia Akariou, Moroccan actress and screenwriter and Marc du Pontavice, President of Xilam Animation (Oggy and Cockroaches, Sharko, Les Dalton).
This 18th edition focuses on Spanish animated cinema. She knows the participation of renowned Spanish directors and producers, including Alberto Vazquez, who will present his feature film Psiconautas.
This focus will also be marked by the presence of Carolina Lopez, director of the International Animated Film Festival of Catalonia (ANIMAC) and Emilio de la Rosa, producer and director of animated films and teacher at the Art School of Madrid which will present a selection of Spanish animated shorts.
For a whole week, the public will be able to watch original screenings, exhibitions, round tables, meetings, an international short film and feature film competition and an important section dedicated to the training of art school students. and audiovisual in Morocco.
This year, a tribute will be paid to the American illustrator Peter de Sève, who will also give a Master Class, and the Japanese Isao Takahata.
The festival, which began in 2001 at the French Institute of Meknes, is becoming a must-see film event in Morocco and Africa. It attracts every year a large audience of students, families, professionals and students from all Moroccan public schools dedicated to art and cinema.
Since 2015, FICAM has been part of the France-Morocco Cultural Season.
