Moroccan Film Festival presented by the High Atlas Foundation
Over the past twenty-five years, Morocco has frequently been the location of choice for both U.S. and European filmmakers. Often Morocco masquerades as some other “exotic” locale in such hits as Inception, Sex and the City II, Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, and The Bourne Ultimatum. But as those movies were being made and globally publicized, Morocco was quietly developing its own homegrown film industry. The North African kingdom now produces as many as fifteen features and close to fifty shorts annually. Unfortunately, most of these are rarely seen outside Morocco or the film festival circuit; but slowly Morocco’s increasingly sophisticated new cinema, revealing the country’s complex and intriguing culture, is starting to be discovered by international film fans and critics alike.
The High Atlas Foundation is hosting the first-ever Moroccan Film Festival in the U.S. at New York’s Tribeca Cinemas on October 29 and 30, 2010. A dozen films by Moroccan directors, many of them U.S. premieres, will highlight themes that run deep in contemporary Moroccan society: the conflict between tradition and modernity, the rising power of women, and the strong allure that European and American culture holds for Moroccan youth. Festival proceeds will support HAF community projects in the areas of clean drinking water, fruit tree agriculture, irrigation, and women’s cooperatives.
Boasting films that are handsomely produced, skillfully acted, and smartly written, this exciting new wave of Moroccan cinema breaks upon America’s shores with pride and vigor.
Festival program and tickets will be available in mid September. For more information and sponsorship opportunities please contact Kate McLetchie, Event Director at moroccanfilmfestival@highatlasfoundation.org or (631) 662-6687.
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Presenting Partner
Festival Sponsors
Media Partners
Official Festival Venue
Electronic Press Kit
Press Release 1: August 23, 2010 [PDF 216 KB]
Festival Overview [PDF 149 KB]
Bios of Festival Co-chairs [PDF 147 KB]
Festival Committee
Richard Alleman, Festival Co-chair
Dan Cahill, Festival Co-chair
Geralyn Abinader, Filmmaker
Zineb Atouani, Moroccan Prestige
Hind Benabdelkader, Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco
Leila Benabdelkader
Salaheddine Benyoussef, Moroccan Prestige
Sir Charles Dahan, High Atlas Foundation
Alan Edelstein, Filmmaker
Khalid Gourad, Wafin.com
Mohamed Jaaldi, High Atlas Foundation
Wafa Lahlou, Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco
Nora Larhouasli Marrakchi, High Atlas Foundation
Amina Ouchater, Filmmaker
Tim Resch, Friends of Morocco
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