Morocco is in the spotlight at the 38th edition of the Vues d’Afrique (FVA) International Film Festival, which continues until April 10 in Montreal.
On the occasion of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom and Canada, the festival placed its opening evening, last Friday, under the colors of Morocco, with the latest feature film by Nabil Ayouch “Haut et strong”, all in a typically Moroccan atmosphere and decoration combining craftsmanship, Gnaoua musical performances and flavors of national gastronomy.
Nine Moroccan feature and short films and animated films are on the program for this edition of the FVA, after three virtual editions due to the health crisis. The opening of the festival was held in the presence of its president, Gerald Lechesnes, the Moroccan ambassador of SM in Canada, Souriya Otmani, and the consul general of the Kingdom in Montreal, Mohamed Ifriquine.
A large number of guests were also present, including the godmother and godfather of the festival, respectively the actress Aissa Maiga, and the director Richard Jean Baptiste. African and Creole specificities In a virtual speech on this occasion, the Minister of Culture of the Government of Quebec, Nathalie Roy, highlighted the contribution of this artistic event to the enrichment of Montreal’s cultural life because of its African specificity. and Creole.
For her part, the Moroccan ambassador stressed that “this event dedicated to film lovers, Francophones, and Francophiles, friends of African and Caribbean cinema, is now a major and unmissable event on the Montreal cultural scene.” The diplomat congratulated the organizers for the richness and diversity of the programming which allows, she said, “to travel across countries, continents, societies and to be able to discover and reflect on the reality, the facts of society and the cultures of the world.
Cinema, like music and the arts in general, has this magical gift of making our escape, bringing us together, promoting better understanding, and also bringing communities and peoples of the world closer together.
