RAJA KHAYRAT

Morocco- The 15th International Women’s Film Festival Salé (FIFFS), organized by the Bouregreg Association with the aim of promoting women's cinema and highlighting women in cinema, kicked off in Morocco yesterday. The festival will end on October 1.

The opening ceremony of the festival was attended by many artists and film critics. Three women were honored at the opening ceremony. Egyptian actress Leila Eloui expressed her happiness for being honored, stressing that the interest of the Moroccan people gave her the energy to continue her career.

According to the festival organizers, Senegal is the guest country of honor at the festival, “The country guest of honor, this year is Senegal, a country considered as one of the precursors of cinema on the scale of the African continent and for all that it shares with Moroccan cinema. Senegal is also considered a leading country in initiatives aimed at promoting film culture,” said the statement released by the festival organizers.

The festival comprises competitive sections for documentary films, feature-length films and short films. 10 feature films from 19 countries, nine of which are directed by women, will compete at the festival. The competitive section for documentary films will focus on the women’s struggle for equality and against all forms of discrimination.

The juries will award a total of nine prizes, including the “grand prize” of the International Women’s Film Festival of Salé. At the festival, debates, workshops and presentations on the festival and cinema in Morocco will be held.