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Morocco launches 240 million dirham International Cinema City in Ouarzazate
🇲🇦 Morocco /Culture & Society

Morocco launches 240 million dirham International Cinema City in Ouarzazate

From Hespress · () Arabic

Translated from Arabic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Morocco launched the construction of the "International Cinema City" in Ouarzazate, a project costing 240 million dirhams.
  • The city will feature integrated production facilities, post-production labs, and a hotel complex to attract national and international film crews.
  • The initiative aims to create thousands of jobs, boost film tourism, and solidify Morocco's position as a regional and international film production hub.

Morocco has officially launched the construction of its "International Cinema City" in Ouarzazate, a significant project valued at 240 million dirhams. The initiative aims to bolster the country's audiovisual production infrastructure and enhance Ouarzazate's appeal as a filming destination.

The Cinema City in Ouarzazate is a dream come true after years of work.

— Mohamed Mehdi BensaidMinister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, speaking to the media about the project.

The expansive project will encompass eight integrated zones. These include filming studios, a post-production hub equipped with digital labs and editing suites, a broadcasting and training center, and a hotel complex offering 3- to 5-star accommodations for film crews. The total investment of 240 million dirhams is being financed by the Draa-Tafilalet region council (80 million dirhams) and the ministries of Communication and Industry (60 million dirhams each), with funding allocated between 2025 and 2026.

There was a lack in this area, and today the new studios will complement the services offered by professionals here, giving international films a longer presence in the city.

— Mohamed Mehdi BensaidMinister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, explaining the significance of the post-production facilities.

This development is poised to generate thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities. It will also provide producers with a comprehensive "one-stop shop" service and stimulate film tourism, particularly in areas near heritage sites like the Ait Benhaddou Kasbah. The project arrives amid a surge in foreign investment in Morocco's film sector, which reached 1.24 billion dirhams in 2024, reinforcing the nation's status as a key international production platform.

The longer presence of film productions directly means social and economic development for the region's residents, which is the core of the challenge the sector is working on.

— Mohamed Mehdi BensaidMinister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, on the economic impact of the cinema city.

During the launch, officials also visited the ongoing restoration of the Taourirt Kasbah and inspected the renovation work at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Benhaddou. Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, described the Cinema City as a "dream come true after years of work." He highlighted its importance in completing the post-production capabilities in Ouarzazate, which had been a notable gap. Bensaid emphasized that the extended presence of film productions directly translates to social and economic development for the region's residents, a core objective for the sector.

When foreign delegations come to film, they work with Moroccan faces, use existing hotels, and benefit from the various services the city offers.

— Mohamed Mehdi BensaidMinister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, detailing the broader economic benefits.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hespress in Arabic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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