Following a highly successful run in 2022 as the first Moroccan festival to return after the COVID-19 pandemic, the Moroccan festival of Animated Cinema, aka “FICAM,” announced its return date for the city of Meknes in 2023.
From March third to March 12, this well-anticipated cultural manifestation is the first of its kind in Morocco, the Arab world, and Africa.
Every year since its creation in 2001, the festival welcomes animation film professionals from different backgrounds.
This edition builds on the previous one’s success, with a strong focus on Moroccan cinema and animation studios.
“The festival team is renewing the forum for animation professions in Morocco, thus taking the first step toward structuring An Animated Image Production Economy in Morocco,” said Mohamed Beyoud, the festival’s artistic director in an interview with Hespress EN.
The festival’s organizers indicated that this 21st edition will focus on Czech animation with the intention of honoring the significant schools of global animation and expanding the festival’s educational and cinephilic dimension.
Thus, four distinguished Czech guests are expected: Dénisa Grimmova and Jan Bebenicek, directors of Even Mice Go to Heaven, a veritable jewel of puppet animation, Frantisek Vasa, director of Stop Motion animation films, Tereza Brdckova, who co-signed with Jol Farges, French director, Jiri Trnka, the found friend, documentary devoted to one of Czech animation’s giants.
FICAM will shine, as it has every year since 2004, in 12 towns in Morocco, thanks to the network of French Institutes in Morocco, the event’s longtime partner, namely: Agadir, Casablanca, Fez, Essaouira, Kenitra, El Jadida, Marrakech, Rabat, Tangier, Tetouan, and Oujda.
From March 3 to 12, 2023, these cities will host a Meknes-style program with famous guests such as Michel Ocelot, a big figure in international animation.
The latter returns to Morocco with The Pharaoh, the Savage, and the Princess, a feature film based on a Moroccan story. He will also present two outstanding Master Classes in Rabat and Marrakech.
Through its segment “Trop Classe le Cine!” which offers screenings in the presence of renowned directors, FICAM has the unique distinction of being a festival that is largely devoted to school outings. As a result, it supports cultural education in schools.
Children can attend free screenings in the Meknes medina under the “Cine Medina” segment, which is always graced by the presence of the biggest stars in world animation films.
The “Aicha Grand Prix for Animation,” the first animated short film competition in Africa and the Arab world, is organized annually by the event’s main sponsor, the Aicha foundation.
Since 2006, this program has sought to serve as a vital tool for encouraging and assisting young Moroccan creators of the film industry.
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