The Centre Cinématographique Marocain (CCM) has published its 2021 cinema report. Looking at the statistics it is clear there has been a significant drop in the number of cinema admissions across the country.
Between 2017 and 2019 admissions increased, with 1,883,425 in 2019, the year before cinemas had to close because of the Covid pandemic. They remained closed from March 2020 to June 2021. When they re-opened, the number of admissions for the remaining 6 months of 2021 (663,604 entries) shows a sharp drop on the 2019 figure.
The problem is not unique to Moroccan cinemas. Our article on film distribution in Italy shows a similar situation. The two main reasons put forward to explain the difficulties after re-opening are the long period of inactivity and the growing number of video-on-demand platforms. Journalist Majda Fadili in Le Matin puts it like this: “The lockdown was a boon for video-on-demand. Subscriptions soared during this period, inflicting a double penalty on cinemas, which have had to suffer the repercussions.” The arrival of video-on-demand platforms in Morocco in 2016 and their subsequent multiplication (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney +, Starz Play, etc.) has generated significant competition for the country’s cinemas. Part of the problem is cost: the average price of a single cinema ticket is 30MAD (€3) while for 100MAD (€9.5) a whole familycan watch Netflix for a month.
Industry professionals are discussing the situation. In June 2021 a conference organized in Rabat by Ciné Atlas focused on taxing these VOD platforms. Pierre-François Bernet, general manager of the Ciné Atlas group, claimed they bypass Moroccan regulations. For example, they are exempt from “the statutory license issued by the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication”, the obligatory authorisation for showing films in Morocco.
Despite an economic situation which is below previous years, cinema operators are optimistic for the future. “There is a significant increase in entries,” according to Cyrial Audineau, general manager of Megarama Morocco. “By the end of the year we hope to achieve real serenity.”
Because of the many calls for help from exhibitors during the pandemic, the Moroccan Ministry of Culture has been financing the modernization and construction of new cinemas. On August 11th, as part of a wider policy to develop film distribution and production, the CCM announced it will create a new fund of 11.5 million dirhams – approximately €1 million.
Sources : Le Matin, CCM, Box Office Pro, Maroc Diplomatique
