It is a new challenge taken up with brilliance by the International Festival of Animated Cinema in Meknes. Under the applause of an audience that came in large numbers to reconnect with animation, the FICAM paid tribute to a great talent of this art, Kristof Serrand, currently working at Netflix, for his commitment to the development of animation film on an international scale. A graduate of Gobelins, Serrant has had a rich and successful career that has taken him from Gaumont, at the beginning of his career, to the prestigious American studios of Dreamworks, via Ambimation in London.
The opening ceremony, attended by the Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Morocco, Mr. Ladislav Skirik, the Director of Arts at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and several artists and cultural professionals, was illustrated by the announcement of the Grand Prix Aisha animation (GPAA), real support for creation in the Kingdom, won by the young Mohamed Samsam. The organizers took this opportunity to present a retrospective highlighting the richness of Czech animation, guest of honor of this 21st edition of the Festival.
Another artistic bet that does not lack originality in this edition, the team of Mr. Beyoud, artistic director, has chosen to honor 3D films by screening different productions that illustrate the “miracle of stereoscopy” in an environment that has seen the producers of 3D films push the technology to its limits. This choice was very well received by the younger generation, who stormed the screening rooms.
Note that the 21st edition of the International Festival of Animated Cinema of Meknes (FICAM) which takes place from Friday 3 to Wednesday, March 8, 2023 with a variation of its programming over 10 days in 11 cities of the Kingdom, devotes a focus to Czech animation and its great masters with the continued willingness of the FICAM team to honor the world’s leading animation schools, thus developing the educational and cinephilic dimension of the festival, which has become an unmissable event on the international scene by the presence in Meknes of exceptional guests.
This year, and for the 6th time, Michel Ocelot returns with his latest film The Pharaoh, the Savage and the Princess, as well as with the presence of other international animation luminaries, such as Kristof Serrand who will give the Cinema Lesson of this edition.
In addition to the films in competition, a writing residency (Meknes Francophone Animation Film Writing Residency) created in 2016 at the joint initiative of NEF Animation, the French Institute of Meknes and the Aïcha Foundation welcomes authors for a month for a stay dedicated to writing their animation project. The residents benefit from a writing grant and the support of a writing coach.
The festival will host more than 100 students representing art and audiovisual schools in Morocco. These students will have the opportunity to attend the rich program of cultural mediation and will have the opportunity to meet professionals of the animation film industry within the framework of the second edition of the Moroccan Animation Film Forum which will bring together professionals of the sector on an international and national scale, including Moroccan animation studios in search of young talent.
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