Showing posts with label Morocco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Morocco. Show all posts

Saturday, June 10, 2023

The Mobile Film Festival Africa unveils its 2023 in Rabat

Sunday Mapya from Tanzania, director of "I Have a Dream Too" and winner of the Grand Prize Africa

(Source: United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) 

PRESS RELEASE

The Mobile Film Festival Africa unveils its 2023 in Rabat

Guests were able to discover all the films in this year's official selection (54 films from 21 African countries)

Access Multimedia Content
https://uclga.africa-newsroom.com/press/media/the-mobile-film-festival-africa-unveils-its-2023-winners-in-rabat?lang=en

RABAT, Morocco, June 9, 2023/ -- The Mobile Film Festival Africa unveiled the winners of its 2023 edition at a prize ceremony held on Thursday June 8 at the Renaissance cinema in Rabat, an event part of the "Rabat, African Capital of Culture" program celebrations.


From left to right, Gad El Maleh, Jury President, Kamal Lougleb, director pf "The Guardian of the Walls" and winner of the Grand Prize Morocco, HEM Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, minister of Youth, Culture and Communication
(Source: United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) 

From left to right, Mr. Morris Mbolela, Deputy Secretary General of UCLG Africa, Bruno Smadja, Founder of the Mobile Film Festival Africa, Gad El Maleh, Comedian and Jury President, HEM Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, minister of Youth, Culture and Communication
(Source: United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa)

Guests were able to discover all the films in this year's official selection (54 films from 21 African countries), as well as the prizes awarded by a jury chaired by Gad Elmaleh and including Samia Akarriou, Sofia Alaoui, Françoise Ellong, Rafiki Fariala and Fibby Kioria.

For its second pan-African edition, organized in partnership with United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) and the Kingdom of Morocco's Ministry of Youth, Culture  and Communication, the Mobile Film Festival has set up production grants worth a total of $51,000. These grants will enable the winners to make a film with professional resources and support from the Mobile Film Festival. Here are the winners:

Grand Prize Africa ($ 10,000)- I Have a Dream Too by Sunday Mapya - Tanzania

Grand Prize Morocco ($ 10,000)- The Guardian of the Walls by Kamal Lougleb - Morocco

This prize is accompanied by a 10-day screenwriting training residency at ENS Louis-Lumière in Paris, offered by the Institut Français du Maroc.

French Speaking Film Award ($ 5,000)- The Peninsula Dream by Nelly Brun Elvire Behanzin - Benin

This prize, supported by TV5 Monde, is awarded to a film from a country member of the International Organization of Francophonie.

ACP - EU Culture Award (5 000 $)- PAASWAAAD (Password) by Shandra Daisy Apondi - Kenya

This prize is supported by the ACP-EU Culture program.

Best Script Award ($ 5,000)- uççş²Iا دq⁄ زي (Like a Matchstick) by Sami Iskander - Egypt

This prize is supported by Canal +.

African Female Director Award ($ 5,000)- Life in Pink by Vanessa Pellegrin - Morocco

Best Actress Award ($ 500)- Kenza Salahddine in Life in Pink - Morocco

Documentary Film Award ($ 5,000)

Blindness by Bongani Ndaba - South Africa

Best Film from the Democratic Republic of the Congo ($ 5,000)

Nature's Heroes by Gael Bolila - DRC

This prize is supported by Rawbank and illicocash.

Best Actor Award ($ 500)- Yakaru Talibé (A Beggar’s Dream) by Abdoul - Senegal

Best Actor Award ($ 500)

Famille Odiri/Udo in Human Migrant - Morocco

Enthusiasm for this second pan-African edition was evident right from the call for films, with a  huge turnout (886 films from 40 African countries received), and continued throughout the online festival phase, with media coverage across the continent and internationally.

International visibility will be also ensured throughout 2023, with screenings at film festivals, associations and cultural institutions, as well as the 600 cinema screens in 31 African countries showing films from the official selection.

To make them as accessible as possible, the films are offered with subtitles in French, English, Arabic, Portuguese and Spanish.

One of the specificities of the Mobile Film Festival is its 100% digital dimension. All the films are available on all our social networks (Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa).
 
Please, contact us for all interview requests with the directors, the festival organization and the jury members.

Press Contact:
Claudia Rodríguez Press Relations Africa
WhatsApp : +33 787 14 15 40
Téléphone : +33 140 09 89 65 Email : presse@mobilefilmfestival.com
WhatsApp for your questions: https://apo-opa.info/3N2L8ye

About the Mobile Film Festival:
The Mobile Film Festival is an international short film festival founded in 2005 based on a simple principle: 1 Mobile, 1 Minute, 1 Film. Our goal is to support, expose and mentor the upcoming talented filmmakers from all over the world, through grants and technical support to help the winners shoot a professional short film.

The Mobile Film Festival is also 100% digital, in order to reach the largest possible audience. Since 2015, the Mobile Film Festival has received 6414 films from 157 countries, 134 million views and awarded more than €360,000 in grants to the winners.

CGLU Afrique:
The umbrella organization of local and regional governments in Africa was founded in 2005 in the town  of  Tshwane, South Africa, following the unification of three continental groups local governments, namely the African Union of Local Authorities (AULA); the Union of African Cities (AVU); and the Africa chapter of the União das Cidades e Capitais Lusófonas (UCCLA). UCLG Africa (UCLGA.org) brings  together  51  national  associations  of local and regional governments from all regions of Africa, as well as 2,000 cities and territories of more than 100,000 inhabitants. UCLG Africa represents more than 350 million African citizens. A founding member of the world organization UCLG, it is the regional chapter for Africa. UCLG Africa's headquarters are based in Rabat, capital of the Kingdom of Morocco, where it enjoys diplomatic status as a Pan-African International Organization. UCLG Africa also has five regional offices across the continent: in Cairo, Egypt, for North Africa; in Accra, Ghana,  for Central Africa; in Libreville, Gabon, for Central Africa; in Nairobi, Kenya, for East Africa; and in Pretoria, South Africa, for Southern Africa.

Programme Capitale Africaine de la Culture:
The African Capitals of Culture program is supported by United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa). It aims to make culture the fourth pillar of the sustainable development of local authorities, to promote the definition and implementation of cultural policies at the territorial level, and to develop mutually beneficial partnerships between local authorities and actors and promoters of cultural activities, with a view to developing public and private ecosystems capable of making the most of culture to regenerate self-esteem and citizenship, develop decent jobs, particularly for young people and women, and contribute to the international influence of African and Afro-descendant culture.

UNESCO:
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO programs contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the 2030 Agenda and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. Among many other activities, UNESCO supports the development of audiovisual production for and by young people and women in particular, especially on the African continent.

Programme ACP-EU Culture:
The ACP-EU Culture Programme is an initiative implemented by the Organisation of  African,  Caribbean  and  Pacific States (OEACP) with the financial support of the European Union (EU). This programme illustrates the   desire to stimulate the potential of the cultural and creative sector and its contribution to the socio-economic development of ACP countries. With a budget of € 40 million covering the period 2019-2026, the programme is focused on: (i) encouraging entrepreneurship and cultural and technological  innovation,  as  well  as  the participation of young people; (ii) creating new jobs and increasing the income of artists and cultural professionals;

(iii) improving the quality of ACP cultural productions; and (iv) enhancing the value of ACP cultural productions and artists on international markets. For more information, visit www.ACP-UE-Culture.EU and follow ACP-EU Culture via Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn.

France Médias Monde Groupe:
Watch and listen to the world. France Médias Monde, the group in charge of French international broadcasting, comprises the news channels France 24 (in French, English, Arabic and Spanish), the international radio station      RFI (in French and 16 other languages) and the Arabic-language radio station Monte  Carlo  Doualiya.  France Médias Monde broadcasts to the world in 21languages. Its journalists and correspondents offer viewers, listeners and Internet users comprehensive coverage of world events, with a focus on cultural diversity and contrasting viewpoints via news bulletins, reports, magazines and debates. 66 nationalities  are  represented  among  the  group’s employees. Every week, RFI, France 24 and Monte Carlo Doualiya attract 244,2million contacts (2021average). Those outlets have a combined 95million followers on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram  and rose to 2.2billion views and streams in 2021. France Médias Monde is the parent company of CFI, the French media cooperation agency and also a shareholder of the French-language general interest TV channel TV5monde.

LAFAAAC:
LAFAAAC is a mobile training app where you can find high quality courses on the jobs of creative and cultural industries (audiovisual, cinema, music, fashion, video games, etc.), accessible without internet, once downloaded. LAFAAAC is a new digital university!

TV5MONDE+:
TV5MONDE, the world's French-speaking channel, is delighted to be a partner of the Mobile film festival, which celebrates the creativity of the continent's young talents. Thanks to the ease offered by digital technology, mobile phones make it possible to tell beautiful stories whose main actors are the women and men of the continent. The TV5MONDE prize will be awarded to the best Francophone film. On our sites and on our social networks, ten of  the fifty films in competition will be proposed to you. Enjoy the festival!

RFI, une chaîne radio de France Médias Monde:
RFI (Radio France Internationale) is a French news and current affairs public radio station that  broadcasts  worldwide in French and in 16other languages*. RFI is broadcast on 152 different FM frequencies, via short wave relays, on 30 different satellite signals throughout the world and also on the internet and dedicated apps. RFI is  also broadcast across the globe via more than 1950 partner radios. It draws on the expertise of its Paris-based editorial teams and a unique global network of 400 correspondents to provide news bulletins and features offering listeners the means to better understand the world. Some 61.4million listeners around the world tune into RFI   every week, and its digital platforms attract an average of 21.2million visits a month (2021 average) while 29.4million followers stay connected via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. *Brazilian, Cambodian, Chinese, English, Fulfuldé, Haitian creole, Hausa, Mandinkan, Persian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swahili,Ukrainian, Vietnamese.

France24, une chaîne de télévision de France Médias Monde:
France 24, the international news channel, broadcasts 24/7 to 481.4million households around the  world  in  French, Arabic, English and Spanish. The four channels have a combined weekly  viewership  of  97.8million  viewers. France 24 gives a French perspective on global affairs through a network of 160 correspondent located    in nearly every country. It is available via cable, satellite, DTT,  ADSL, on mobile phones, tablets and connected   TVs, as well as on YouTube in four languages. Every month, France 24’s digital platforms attract 23.2million visits, 132.8million video views (2021 average) and 59.9million followers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MCD, une chaîne radio de France Médias Monde:
Monte Carlo Doualiya is a French radio station that broadcasts in Arabic from Paris to the Middle East, Mauritania, Djibouti, and Sudan, on FM, via satellite and via partner radio stations. It provides news bulletins and magazines, with a strong focus on culture, live broadcasts, conviviality and interaction. Its editorial team and  worldwide network of correspondents provide coverage of world news to 10.4million listeners every week. Monte Carlo Doualiyais a radio station based on the values of universalism and freedom for listeners of all ages.The station is also accessible via its website, which is one of the most modern of all Arabic-language sites, and via its app and through a range of cable and satellite packages. MCD attract 1.9million visits to its digital platforms every month (2021 average) and 4.6million followers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Jawjab:
Jawjab is a creative studio, a production company and a place for creation of all sorts. This subsidiary of Ali n' Productions was founded by Nabil Ayouch in 2016, and has distinguished itself by the originality of its content, the diversity of its know-how and the values it holds. Through its platforms, the studio aims to promote the values of gender equality, inclusion and freedom of speech, and is committed to opening up  discussion  on  the  issues specific to Moroccan society, with humility and kindness. A desire that crystallized with the launch of JATWJABT     in 2022, the country's first feminist and inclusive media, which highlights topics related to women and minorities rights.Jawjab focuses its efforts on creating strong concepts, driven by the creativity and expertise of its teams, to birth unique productions that contribute to the development of the Moroccan audiovisual field. Jawjab was rewarded in 2019 with the Samir Kassir prize, awarded by the European Union for the best audiovisual production of the year.

HIT RADIO:
HIT RADIO S.A. is an independent Moroccan Media Group that started its activities with the launch in 2006 of a music radio for Moroccan youth. It was the first radio to broadcast news flashes in Darija the moroccan slangs, to expose the new Moroccan music scene and to launch a "Free Antenna" in Morocco. HIT RADIO is actively participating in the improvement of the national media landscape in a innovative and independent spirit.

With a positioning focused on music, entertainment and freedom of expression, HIT RADIO is listened nowadays by more than 3.4 million daily listeners in Morocco and more than 2 millions per month abroad through the digital audio streaming. Since 2012, the HIT RADIO concept was extended to 9 sub-Saharan countries: Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Congo, Togo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Burundi, Chad and Niger.

La Tribune: le média de la transformation et des territoires:
Faced with the acceleration of major digital, ecological and societal transitions, La Tribune is asserting itself in the French media landscape as "the newspaper of the changing world". As a reference media in the economy and finance sector, La Tribune relies on a heritage of 30 years of innovation and sectoral presence in all territories. As a local economic newspaper, its editorial expertise is based on a network of journalists in touch with  the  real economy in the regions and in the major cities.

In a world saturated with information, La Tribune's vocation is to provide a rich and useful expertise. Far from  being exhaustive in its treatment of current events, its editorial staff strives to decipher the subjects at the heart of its editorial line, subjects that are forward-looking and offer solutions in a cross-cutting theme such  as:  the  industry of the future, finance, technological revolutions, entrepreneurship, energy transitions, aeronautics, space and air transport, and the intelligent city in all its components (mobility, commerce, housing, etc.).

CANAL+:
CANAL+ Group is a leading media company and pay-TV operator. CANAL+ Group has a wide  international  footprint with a presence in Europe, Africa and Asia. CANAL+ Group totals 23.7 million subscribers worldwide, including 9 million in mainland France. With STUDIOCANAL, CANAL+ Group is also a European leader in the production, acquisition and distribution of feature films and TV series. It is also a leading player in free-to-air television with a pole of several channels, as well as an ads sales agency. CANAL+ Group is wholly-owned by worldwide integrated content, media and communication group, Vivendi.

SOURCE
United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa)


Monday, February 6, 2023

Idris Elba To Build Film Studios in Ghana To Attract Hollywood



Famous British actor and director, Idris Elba recently met with the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House, during his visit to Ghana.


During the meeting with the President of Ghana discussed building a film studio in the country. 

He also urged the president to create favorable policies for filmmakers to thrive. 

He noted that he has plans to shoot a movie in Ghana. 

In a video from their meeting that has gone viral on social media, Idris Elba was seen pitching the idea of establishing a film studio in the west African country.

He noted that there is a lot of filmmaking potential that the lack of facilities has stifled. He also spoke about the importance of government policies in boosting the film sector in Africa.

“We’ve studied the models of obviously South Africa’s incredible incentive package, and around Europe, obviously, Greece, Morocco, these are all places where they realize the value of the filmmaking dollar and have brought that policy into play,” he said to the Ghanaian president.

Idris Alba during a meeting with the President of Ghana discussed building a film studio in the country. 

He also urged the president to create favorable policies for filmmakers to thrive. 

He noted that he has plans to shoot a movie in Ghana. 

The blockbuster actor revealed that he has a movie he is currently shooting and would love to shoot some parts of that movie in Ghana. He disclosed that pre-production is set for August, and principal photography would begin in December.

#IdrisElba #Ghana #SouthAfrica #Nigeria #Filmmaking #FilmStudios #filmmakers #movies #actors 

#August #filmindustry

Read more on 

https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/idris-elba-adds-ghana-to-list-of-african-countries-he-wants-to-partner-with/4z27x1x

Thursday, May 12, 2022

Africa: Canon will Launch Two of its Revolutionary Products - EOS R3, EOS R5C to Further Highlight the Company’s Commitment to Introduce a Much Wider Array of Technology Solutions in Africa

Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA)

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PRESS RELEASE

Canon will Launch Two of its Revolutionary Products - EOS R3, EOS R5C to Further Highlight the Company’s Commitment to Introduce a Much Wider Array of Technology Solutions in Africa

Canon Central and North Africa announced today of its highly awaited debut R-tour to commence from May 12th in Morocco 

 Access Multimedia Content

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 12, 2022/ -- In alignment with the company’s philosophy of ‘Kyosei’, that stands for ‘Living and working together for the common good’, Canon (www.Canon-CNA.com) continues to reaffirm its commitment to Africa by operating closer to its customers thereby commencing its much anticipated debut R-tour for Morocco from May 12th, 2022. Canon will launch two of its revolutionary products - EOS R3, EOS R5 C to further highlight the company’s commitment to introduce a much wider array of technology solutions in Africa.

Amine Djouahra Canon’s Sales and Marketing Director (CCNA) at today’s R – Tour in Morocco
(Source: Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) 

Canon Central and North Africa announced today of its highly awaited debut R-tour to commence from May 12th in Morocco, in line with the company’s continued commitment to Morocco, a key country representing one of the important economies in the region. The launch event will witness the official kick-off of Canon’s much-awaited R-tour in Africa and will have Lorenzo Salami - Multitalented Lifestyle and Fashion Photographer, Saab Abid, Morocco’s leading Instagram influencer along with Canon’s Sales and Marketing Director (CCNA) – Amine Djouahra.

As a testament to Canon’s dedication to on-going research and development in ensuring a continuous stream of new products and solutions to meeting evolving needs, Canon’s R-tour will kick-off by introducing two of its ground-breaking products – EOS R3, EOS R5 C and the newly introduced Powershot Zoom to customers and fans in Morocco. The R Tour in Morocco will bring together Pro Specialist Partners, selected professional Photographers, SI-Var Partners, Social media influencers and media, among others to create a truly inspirational platform for its consumers to engage and interact. Post the tour, Canon envisions to continue engaging with end-users through a series of events including Photo walks, Masterclasses, Competitions, and Generation R Community events among others.  The tour will also provide Canon fans to test-drive Canon products by physically touching and trying them on the spot.

Closer to Customer

“Morocco is a key market for us, and we are committed to bring innovative digital technologies to the country in a bid to underpin its digital transformation journey. The R-tour is a series of special events that enables us to put our consumers and fans in the driving seat, they get to test and try our products, participate in events, engage with industry professionals and more. We foresee the R-tour as a strong channel for us to get another step closer to our customers in Morocco by driving meaningful conversations across various touchpoints. As an ode to our commitment to the people in Morocco, we are also launching our best of the breed products to enable photographers and filmmakers in bringing their stories to life in the most versatile manner possible. We are thrilled for the R-tour to kick-off in Morocco and directly engage with our valuable customers and fan-base there,” said Amine Djouahra, Director of Sales and Marketing, Canon Central and North Africa.

Canon has been represented in Morocco since 2009 through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the country. Through the launch of its new products incorporating cutting-edge and world-class technology, Canon aims to be part of Morocco’s digital transformation journey by elevating the imaging technology sector in the country. Canon’s relentless pursuits in enhancing the local distribution network in Morocco, supported by partners as well local Canon employees in-country, has been the driving force in successfully implementing the company’s closer to customer strategy.

Interact and Engage

To further encourage interaction and engagement amongst consumers and attendees of Canon’s R-tour, the company has gone one step ahead and created experiential booths to maximize the learning opportunities. A total of five different booth set-ups will be installed at the event namely Generation R, Postproduction Set-up, Home zone, Photo studio and Outdoor Aerial act performance with each of these focusing on a particular area of interest. The Generation R booth will highlight the entire lineup of the Full frame mirrorless series along with an experiential set up to allow customers to touch and try the product. Canon’s Generation R community brings EOS R System users together with other creative photographers and experts to pursue and share their passion while exchanging knowledge. The Generation R booth will embody the spirit of this community taking it a notch higher and making the entire experience more personal with the on-ground presence.

The booth for Postproduction Set up will provide cinematographers as well as enthusiasts with a complete line-up of extraordinary products that can dramatically upscale the quality of the video content. Focusing on the essentials of a modern home, the home booth set up will put on display Canon’s stellar line of printers including the famous G-series and megatank printers. The photo studio set-up will take this display of printers a level higher by highlighting the company’s Pro 1000 and Pro 300 and Pixma 640 and other input to output solutions. On the other hand, the Outdoor Aerial Act Performance booth will provide invitees with the exclusive experience of getting their hands on Canon’s EOS R3 to test and try on the spot.

Additionally, the event will also feature a panel discussion amongst the key speakers i.e., Amine Djouahra, Lorenzo Salami and Saab Abid reflecting thoughts and opinions on the significance of content creation in today’s day and age, its contribution to the imaging industry, impact of upcoming content consumption trends on photography and products. The discussion will also touch upon the impact on business as a result of emerging content trends, changes in consumer habits of target audience along with the positive effects of driving higher engagement with consumers through cutting-edge and quality content production. Canon’s Sales and Marketing Director will also take this opportunity to detail out company’s efforts in Africa to generate awareness, education as well as growth opportunities for both business and consumers through its myriad initiatives such as Miraisha programme, Canon Academy workshops, mentorships and more.

Technology that Transforms

Canon offers a comprehensive range of input-to-output solutions, from world-renowned cameras to innovative printers and multi-function printers in Morocco. However, the R-tour will act as a springboard for the company to introduce EOS R3 and EOS R5 C in a manner where people can directly pilot the products on-site. The EOS R3 offers all the familiarity and speed of Canon’s renowned EOS-1 series, with the innovation and versatility of the pioneering EOS R System. With a brand new, innovative 24.1megapixel sensor, the EOS R3 gives an optimal balance of performance, resolution and speed to offer news and sports photographers a camera to outperform and outpace the competition. Likewise, The EOS R5 C is a powerful, hybrid cinema camera which combines the professional filmmaking features of the Cinema EOS range with the EOS R System’s photo capabilities. A high-resolution, full frame CMOS sensor, DIGIC X processor and the RF Mount, are the crucial three elements that enable high fidelity 8K capture, and 45 megapixels still photo capture at burst speeds up to 20 frames per second, all in a single body of the EOS R5 C.

Canon's R-tour in Morocco will kick off today, May 12th, 2022, in Casablanca. The company's next R-tour is scheduled to begin in Egypt on May 23rd, followed by Kenya on June 2nd, 2022, and many more to come in the upcoming months covering the wide African continent. Stay tuned!

Click here (https://bit.ly/3LaGUSe) for more details to join the Generation R Hub community!

Click here to know more about the products- EOS R3 (https://bit.ly/39dngb5), EOS R5 C (https://bit.ly/3ywsbOY) & Powershot Zoom (https://bit.ly/3PsFypA)!

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

Media enquiries, please contact:
Canon Central and North Africa
Mai Youssef
E-mail: Mai.youssef@canon-me.com

APO Group - PR Agency
Rania ElRafie
E-mail: Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com

About Canon Central and North Africa:

Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2015 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region - by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.

Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.

Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (https://bit.ly/3M8Nrhz) – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better. For more information: Canon-CNA.com

SOURCE

Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA)


Monday, July 12, 2021

Morocco's Oasis Studios Venture Looks to Fuel Pan-African Production - Variety

                            Chioma Ude

#Nigeria

#africa

#morocco

#Nolllywood

#oasis

#studio

#Movies

Morocco's Oasis Studios Venture Looks to Fuel Pan-African Production - Variety

Moroccan producer Khadija Alami and Nigerian producer and Africa Intl. Film Festival founder Chioma Ude have announced a 50-50 partnership in Morocco’s Oasis Studios, a thriving production hub that they aim to use as a launching pad for the next generation of African filmmakers.


Read the report on 

https://variety.com/2021/film/global/morocco-oasis-studios-khadija-alami-1235010676

Saturday, June 5, 2021

Chad and Morocco in Official Selection of the 74th Annual Cannes Film Festival

Chad and Morocco in Official Selection of the 74th Annual Cannes Film Festival


Two films by African filmmakers are in competition for the prestigious Palme d'Or, the most coveted award of the annual Cannes Film Festival in France 

In competition is "Lingui,” by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, who was the  Minister of Tourism, Culture and Crafts of Chad from February 5, 2017 to February 8, 2018. He is well known for his award winning films, including "Bye, Bye Africa", winner of the Best Film Prize at the 1999: annual Venice Film Festival; "Daratt", winner of the Special Jury Prize at the  2006 annual Venice Film Festival and the Yennenga bronze stallion and Best Photo Award at 2007 FESPACO; "A Screaming Man", winner of the Jury Prize at the 2010 annual Cannes Festival and the Robert Bresson Prize at the Venice Film Festival (awarded by the Catholic Church).

The second film is "Casablanca Beats" (Hauts et forts) by Nabil Ayouch, the first by a Moroccan filmmaker to qualify for the competition of the Official Selection of the annual Cannes Film Festival. The  74th annual Cannes Film Festival, is from July 6 to 17, 2021.


- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor, NOLLYWOOD MIRROR ® Series.

Monday, September 19, 2011

IBM Boosts Africa Expansion With New Angola Office



19 Sep 2011 11:00 Africa/Lagos


IBM Boosts Africa Expansion With New Angola Office
New subsidiary demonstrates company's increased footprint in key growth markets

PR Newswire

LUANDA, Angola, Sept. 19, 2011

LUANDA, Angola, Sept. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) has announced the opening of a new branch office in Luanda, as part of the company's continued geographic expansion to increase its presence in key growth markets in support of its global strategy.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110919/NY69873-a )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110919/NY69873-b )

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO )

The Angolan arm is part of a broad programme of investment that IBM is making in Africa and follows the recent opening of new locations in Dakar, Senegal and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This gives IBM a direct presence in more than 20 African countries, including South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria.



The expanded presence in Angola will enable IBM to increase its level of service to clients and partners across the Central African region and deliver more advanced and high-value solutions across many industries.

IBM already serves a number of key clients in Central Africa, spanning sectors including telecommunications, oil & gas, finance and government. For example in Angola, IBM is working with one of the country's major banks to help transform the institution's core banking technology infrastructure and support business growth. With a new system based on IBM Power servers and software technologies, the bank has been able to upgrade its banking services.

IBM is also working closely with other local financial institutions and oil & gas companies in Angola to improve the accuracy and security of information in the country.

"Expanding into Angola offers IBM an important business opportunity as we expand our presence throughout the African continent," said Bruno Di Leo, General Manager, IBM Growth Markets. "This demonstrates IBM's commitment to expand into new markets to provide innovative solutions for our clients and partners. Luanda is one of more than 230 IBM branch offices across 55 growth market countries."

IBM is also engaged in an active programme of corporate citizenship across Africa. Since 2008, IBM has deployed 250 of its most talented employees on projects in Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Morocco and Egypt helping to solve local problems with the aim of fostering economic development and job creation.

"By opening a direct presence in Angola and many other markets on the African continent, IBM overcomes one of the biggest barriers to entry in Africa, namely being able to offer local support and insights to their clients and business partners," says Hannes Fourie, Senior Analyst IDC, Middle East and Africa.

The Luanda office is part of IBM's Central Africa operations and will complement IBM's other branch offices in the region. IBM has supplied products and solutions to Central Africa since the 1940's, and IBM equipment was installed in Angola by the company known as Benguela Railways in 1955.

The new office was inaugurated this week at a ceremony for customers, business partners and government officials in Luanda.

About IBM
For more information on IBM, please visit:
http://asmarterplanet.com/blog/2011/06/ibm-in-africa.html

Contacts:
Arlene Wainstein
IBM External Relations, Middle East & Africa
33 (0) 1 5875-5951
Mobile: 33 (0) 672 759574
arlenewainstein@fr.ibm.com

Marie-Anne (Kui) Kinyanjui
IBM External Relations, Growth Markets Unit
254 20 283 4000
Mobile: 254 721 676 543
mariekin@ke.ibm.com

SOURCE IBM

Web Site: http://www.ibm.com




Saturday, May 7, 2011

Al-Qaeda Suspect Arrested in Deadly Marrakesh Bombing


The deadly blomb blast In Marrakesh killed 16 people, many of them foreigners (AFP/File, Abdelhak Senna)


Moroccan Response to Bombing Shows Deep Commitment to Human Rights Protection

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The lead suspect arrested by Morocco in its ongoing investigation of the deadly April 28 terrorist bombing in Marrakesh has been linked to al-Qaeda, according to a report by Morocco's Interior Ministry. The terrorist bombing at Cafe Argana in Marrakesh's central square killed 17 people—most of them Europeans—and injured 20.

World leaders, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have condemned the bombing. Morocco has won praise for its thoroughness and restraint in investigating the bombing.

Three Moroccan suspects were arrested in Safi, 220 miles south of Casablanca. The lead suspect, who was "linked to Al-Qaeda," had "made two explosive devices, which were triggered from a distance" by mobile phone, said the Interior Ministry. He "chose the Argana cafe because it is popular with Moroccan and foreign tourists."

Investigators found the suspects learned how to make the bombs on the Internet and "were absorbed by jihadist ideology," with "allegiance to al-Qaeda, and had already made several attempts to join some of the hotbeds of tension," including Chechnya and Iraq, before deciding to carry out their attack in Morocco.

Immediately following the attack, His Majesty King Mohammed VI called for respect for "the primacy of the rule of law" and vowed that the bombing wouldn't derail Morocco's new program of constitutional reforms, which he outlined in a speech to the nation on March 9.

Earlier this week, Moroccan Islamists said "they felt reassured that authorities acted with restraint and did not carry out mass arrests as they did in the wake of 2003 attacks," reported AFP. A leader of the Islamic opposition noted the contrast with the reaction following the 2003 Casablanca bombings that killed 45 people, when hundreds of Islamists were arrested.

The Moroccan American Center for Policy (MACP) is a non-profit organization whose principal mission is to inform opinion makers, government officials and interested publics in the United States about political and social developments in Morocco and the role being played by the Kingdom of Morocco in broader strategic developments in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. For more, please visit www.moroccanamericanpolicy.org.

This material is distributed by the Moroccan American Center for Policy on behalf of the Government of Morocco. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC.

SOURCE Moroccan American Center for Policy

CONTACT: Garth Neuffer, +1-202-470-2055, gneuffer@moroccanamericancenter.com

Web Site: http://www.moroccanamericanpolicy.org



Monday, March 7, 2011

Moroccan filmmaker wins the Golden Stallion of Yennenga at 22nd FESPACO



“The prize is a pride, it’s recognition. It’s encouraging,” said Mouftakir.


“Pegase” by Mohamed Mouftakir from Morocco late Saturday won the Golden Stallion of Yennenga, the grand prize of the Pan African Film Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) in Burkina Faso.

President Blaise Compaore gave out the awards at the closing ceremony of the 22nd FESPACO witnessed by over 22,000 people, including the participants and invited dignitaries at the Stade du 4-Août Stadium in Ouagadougou.


Click here for the details of all the winners and the trailer of "Pegase".



Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Revealing Truths Behind the Western Sahara Conflict

22 Dec 2009 13:00 Africa/Lagos

Revealing Truths Behind the Western Sahara Conflict

The quest of Aminatou Haidar, known as the Gandhi of the Sahara, is only one side of a three-decade saga that has plagued Western Sahara.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The recent return of Aminatou Haidar to Western Sahara in southern Morocco has sparked both national and international debate as to the future of the disputed region. Her recent hunger strike has brought real focus to an area dubbed "Africa's Last Colony." One author claims, however, that worldwide leaders should not forget the past as he reveals the human rights violations that occurred to a forgotten group of prisoners.


"There is another side to the story that people have not heard," says Thomas Hollowell, who served a short stint with the Peace Corps in Morocco and is the author of the newly released Allah's Garden: A True Story of a Forgotten War in the Sahara Desert of Morocco. His book focuses on a Moroccan doctor's 24-year detention by a militant group vying for Western Sahara known as the Polisario. "The alternative to Morocco controlling Western Sahara would be a governing body built on manipulation who has committed grave crimes against humanity."


Through the doctor's plight, Hollowell's book describes Moroccan military and civilian prisoners who were captured by the Polisario guerilla-war movement and taken to prison camps in southwestern Algeria. While in captivity, these POWs were tortured and enslaved for decades to build up the area's infrastructure. "While I feel for Aminatou Haidar, I would not relate her to Gandhi," says the author. "While she is notable and courageous, through association, her struggle indirectly endorses a political organization who is unscrupulous and dangerous."


Though not a political book by definition, Allah's Garden strikes a controversial chord for those on both sides of the debate: those recognizing the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and those supporting Morocco's claim to Western Sahara.


Thomas Hollowell has authored two books and several articles for national and international publications. Allah's Garden: A True Story of a Forgotten War in the Sahara Desert of Morocco, ISBN 978-0964142398 (http://www.allahs-garden.com/), is published by Tales Press in Urbana, Illinois and is available online at Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0964142392 or any other Amazon worldwide. To request an interview or additional information, please contact the author at http://www.thomashollowell.com/.


Source: Thomas Hollowell

CONTACT: Thomas Hollowell, Twinlance Media, +1-765-387-4404, Fax:
+1-718-304-1180, tdh@twinlance.net


Web Site: http://www.allahs-garden.com/