The Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mehdi Bensaïd, has said that the call for applications for the post of Director General of the Centre Cinématographique Marocain (CCM) will soon be open.
Since Sarim Fassi-Firhi’s departure in 2021 the CCM has been without a head. Abdelaziz Bouzadaini is the current acting director, the third person to fill the gap.
The appointment of a new DG in June will go hand in hand with the project to reform the CCM announced by the Minister in 2021. Called for by industry professionals, the reforms focus on the CCM’s unwieldy administrative procedures and should make applying for a grant, or any type of authorization, easier. The idea is to make the CCM “a faster, less administrative and more responsive machine,” hopefully attracting more investors, especially foreign productions.
In particular the reforms will create a one-stop shop to reduce the number of duplicated files submitted at present. For example, it will no longer be necessary to complete separate dossiers for a film which will be shown in cinemas and on television. The other essential reform is to separate the CCM from the cinematheque, which will give each institution financial autonomy and freedom of action within their respective missions.
Mr. Bensaïd hopes the reforms will increase production subsidies by letting regions give grants to producers whose films show off their region.
Sources: Box Office Pro, Medias 24
