Mmorocco

Promoting Visual Arts in Marrakech

The very words 'Morocco' and 'Marrakech' conjure up visions of glamorous, exotic and mysterious locations, so it’s no wonder that many foreign films have been shot on location in this fascinating North African country over the decades since moving pictures became a popular means of entertainment. The Lumière brothers of France are believed to have been the earliest filmmakers in history, and their 1897 film Le chevalier Marocain was based in Morocco.

As an institution of higher education, the Marrakech School of Visual Arts (L'École supérieure des arts visuels de Marrakech) is dedicated to training students for careers in television, film and visual communications such as multimedia design and graphic arts, promoting these skills on the African continent. Most often referred to as ESAV Marrakech, the Marrakech School of Visual Arts also promotes cultural and social diversity, with students primarily from Africa, the Maghreb and the Middle East. As a partnership with the University Cadi Ayyad of Marrakech, the school was founded in 2006 by the Susanna Biedermann Foundation of Switzerland, and runs as a non-profit organization.

The school complex includes two film set studios with multi-camera facilities and a 210-seat movie theater. A sound-proofed auditorium and sound-proofed recording studio, along with twenty editing rooms, seven sound recording units, five DV cam filming units, fifteen HD cam filming units, large screen projection, artist workshops and Mac Pro-equipped graphic art studios, are among the facilities offered to students. Each year entrance evaluations are held in Paris, Marrakech and ten other locations in the Middle East and Africa. Applicants need a bachelor's degree, and with an independent scholarship fund available, students are selected on their abilities and not their financial or social status.

Led by Moroccan curator and historian, Abdellah Karroum, ESAV collaborates with Rabat-based The Apartment 22 and other institutes to host an annual meeting creating a platform for the university and the professional world of art, both national and international, to meet and share knowledge and experiences regarding the arts.

With the Marrakech International Film Festival (Festival International du Film de Marrakech) set to take place from November 30 through to December 08, 2012, clearly Morocco is on the international map in the realms of visual art in all its forms.

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Discover Moroccan Film Culture at Cinematheque de Tanger

Started in 2006, Cinematheque de Tanger is a non-profit organization located in the Moroccan city of Tangier, where its organizers aim to provide the public with top quality programs representing the multi-faceted diversity of film production, beyond the scope of films released in commercial Moroccan theaters. By promoting world cinema in Morocco, and Moroccan cinema to the world, Cinematheque de Tanger (CdT) hopes to develop film culture in Morocco, acting as a platform for cross-cultural dialogue and exchange of ideas. The organization is creating a film archive representing all genres of film, including documentaries, video art and experimental films, as well as hosting workshops for filmmakers and educational activities for children.

The Cinematheque de Tanger's primary reason for the archive is preserve and distribute Arabic and Maghrebi film and video, while making the material available to as wide an audience as possible. The archive includes both contemporary and classic features, documentaries, short films and artist videos, with categories for experimental and amateur cinema. The collection can be viewed on site at the CdT, located in the former premises of Cinema Rif, Grand Socco, Tangier, where regular programs feature selected items.

In order to provide a wide range of cinematic works, the organization welcomes private and institutional donations, requesting that artists, producers, distributors and film associations submit their film footage to be scanned for preservation on a secure digital server. Colonial footage and old super 8 tapes from Arabic countries are also of interest. CdT points out that submission of works for filing in their archives implies the transfer of non-commercial distribution rights as set out by the CdT.

Children's programs include screening of a wide range of film genres including animation, documentaries, ethnographic films and world cinema, with the objective of education young audiences on the various aspects of movies. On the first Sunday of every month between October to June, The Magic Lantern showcases films with both educational and entertainment value. School Sessions are designed to make children curious about film making, and develop critical thinking and expression through discussion, while sharing and forming social bonds.

The Library of Cinematheque de Tanger is open on Saturday morning from 10am to 1pm, where visitors have access to essays, art books, poetry, journals, novels, film, photography, visual arts, history and more. The Cinematheque de Tanger certainly contributes to the cultural heritage of one of Morocco's most charming destinations.

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La Route des Casbahs

Dans le Grand Sud où le sable ne demande qu’à tout envahir, ils forment le cours de la vie. Vergers, champs, palmeraies, roseraies, leurs rives déroulent un long ruban fertile où les hommes font des miracles. Ce sont les oueds Drâa, Dadès, Ziz.

Le Désert

Le Sahara… Son histoire se confond avec celle de l’humanité. Univers minéral qui féconda autrefois tout un continent, préservant en son sein des richesses longtemps insoupçonnées. Immensité de sable et de rocaille, de mirages et d’oasis, restant pour toujours le territoire de nos rêves et de nos évasions.

Ouarzazate

A la croisée des chemins entre les vallées du Drâa, du Dadès et du Ziz, Ouarzazate marque le début du périple en éblouissant le voyageur avec deux magnifiques casbahs. Celle de Taourirt, ancienne résidence du Glaoui, est ahurissante de beauté. Des tours émergent d’une masse de maisons serrées les unes aux autres, poussent leurs créneaux vers le bleu du ciel et se disputent la première place au soleil.

Marrakech

MARRAKESH : LA VILLE SPECTACLE

Marrakesh s’éveille. Comme chaque matin depuis 800 ans, avec les mêmes inflexions chantantes, l’appel du muezzin résonne du haut des 70 mètres de la Koutoubia, le phare spirituel de Marrakesh.

Essaouira

Eternellement protégée par les alizés, noyée au milieu des fleurs, Essaouira la Blanche embaume de toutes les essences que travaillent ses ébénistes. Charmante petite ville au caractère très particulier avec ses maisons aux volets bleus, l’ex-Mogador rappelle étrangement les îles grecques, tandis que ses remparts font penser à Saint-Malo. Bref, on se sent chez soi. En plus la température y est presque toujours de 25ºC, ce qui change des 40ºC de Marrakesh en été. Pas étonnant que de nombreux Marrakchis s’y précipitent, fuyant les fortes chaleurs.

Agadir

AGADIR : QUE LA FETE COMMENCE !

Entre le vert odorant des eucalyptus, des pins, des tamaris et le bleu enchanteur d’une mer limpide, calme, vivifiante, délicieuse, bleu pur à peine plus soutenu que celui du ciel où, tous les jours, brille un soleil éclatant, s’étale une sublime plage de sable fin et doré, longue de dix kilomètres, la plage d’Agadir.

Tetouan

DE TETOUAN A CHEFCHAOUEN

Au programme cet après-midi, promenade à Tétouan. La ville domine la verte vallée de l’Oued Martil. Pour entrer dans la médina, franchir ses remparts, vous avez le choix entre sept portes magnifiquement ouvragées. Et maintenant, suivez votre inspiration. Cette ruelle ombragée par une treille dégage une fraîcheur délicieuse. Observez les bâtisses ornées de céramique.

Tanger

TANGER : L’INSPIRATRICE

“Tourterelle posée sur l’épaule de l’Afrique”, Tanger a longtemps été convoitée pour sa position stratégique. Depuis la fondation de Tingis au IVe siècle avant J.C., Carthaginois, Romains, Phéniciens, Vandales, Espagnols, Portugais et Anglais se la sont disputée jalousement. Aucune ville d’Afrique qui ne soit plus proche de l’Europe, aucun Orient qui ne soit plus cher au coeur des artisites européens ou américains : peintres, musiciens ou écrivains.

Rabat

Partout du bleu, bleu intense de la mer et du ciel, et blottie dans l’écrin ocre de ses remparts, une ville blanche avec un minaret qui joue avec les nuages : voici Rabat, la capitale du Maroc.

Meknes

Au coeur de la campagne marocaine, coup de coeur ! c’est Meknès, la ville impériale de Moulay Ismaïl. Avec une ardeur inlassable, une volonté inébranlable, il entreprit de faire de cette ville une capitale à son image.
Palais, mosquées, fontaines, terrasses, jardins, écuries, magasins, greniers s’édifièrent sans discontinuer pendant 50 ans pour combler le gigantesque périmètre dessiné par les murailles.

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