Marrakech International Film Festival

The e-journalist Tarik Essaadi, a founder of several sites that enrich the national and worldwide canvas, including Emmarakech.info and L’image.info, suffered from exhaustion that caused breakdown to carry out work on the opening evening of the Marrakech International Film Festival (MIFF).

That kept him from covering the MIFF as he did over the last few years.

His absence has not escaped the attention of the President of MIFF, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay Rachid, who pays close attention to what is written about the festival, especially what Tarik publishes on his sites.

When Crown Prince Moulay Rachid inquired about his absence, He learned a bad news.

Inspiring reaction: Crown Prince Moulay Rachid without delay paid a surprise visit to famous e-journalist.

Instantly, the generous His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay Rachid decided to pay the hospitalization costs of Tarik.

This gave a hope to this young father loved by many people for both his professional and human qualities.

We wish him a speedy recovery.

Dimanche, 30 Novembre 2008 21:36 BM

L’e-journaliste Tarik Essaadi, fondateur de plusieurs sites qui enrichissent la toile nationale et mondiale dont Emmarakech.info, L’image.info, a été victime d’un surmenage qui lui a causé une paralysie des quatre membres, à la veille de l’ouverture du Festival International des Films de Marrakech (FIFM).

C’est ce qui l’a empêché de couvrir, comme il le faisait d’habitude, le déroulement du festival. Ce changement n’a pas échappé au président du FIFM, SAR le Prince Moulay Rachid qui a l’habitude de suivre tout ce qui s’écrit sur le festival et notamment ce que publie Tarik sur ses sites.

Le Prince s’est alors renseigné et a appris la mauvaise nouvelle. Géniale réaction : il s’est aussitôt rendu chez le célèbre e-journaliste.

Sur place, en Prince généreux, SAR Moulay Rachid a décidé de prendre en charge les frais d’hospitalisation de Tarik.

Ce qui a rendu espoir à ce jeune père de famille très apprécié par les internautes pour ses qualités tant professionnelles qu’humaines.

Nous lui souhaitons prompt rétablissement.

http://www.lereporter.ma/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1035:moulay-rachid--prince-au-grand-cur-&catid=58:confidentiel&Itemid=182

Marrakech, November 23, 2008 – One of the crucial components of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay Rachid’s strategy is to focus on supporting IT linked educational necessities of people with special needs.

Under the direction of Crown Prince Moulay Rachid, 8th edition of Marrakech International Film Festival (MIFF) made movies accessible for visually impaired people by using the "Audio Description,” the actor's voice describes each scene and is transmitted by headset.

This initiative further promotes Crown Prince Moulay Rachid constant efforts to enhance IT skills of citizens with physical challenges, which in return is significant for the overall development of the society.

Crown Prince Moulay Rachid, who is also the President of MIFF Foundation stressed IT capability will significantly exploit a shift more rapidly to achieve objective of integrating people with special needs as self-sufficient and contributing citizens of society.

Crown Prince Moulay Rachid also urged and encouraged government and all involved in the audiovisual sector, including National Broadcasting and Television, to adopt similar technology in national productions to allow greater availability to visually impaired citizens.

This will give them access to the cinema with the knowledge that it is regarded as a place of entertainment for the visually impaired as well.

Thanks to the vision and the steps taken by Crown Prince Moulay Rachid, people with special needs are able to come out of their silence and express their concerns and challenges they face and pose.

Under the Royal Patronage of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay Rachid

Under the Royal Patronage of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay Rachid

http://www.gala.fr/l_actu/c_est_officiel/l_etoile_d_or_de_marrakech

Marrakech, November 23, 2008 -- The Marrakech International Film Festival (MIFF) has become an essential part of the Kingdom of Morocco’s cultural events map.

The festival, held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay Rachid, makes it possible for viewers and film professionals to see the recent international productions.

This edition, under the direction of Crown Prince Moulay Rachid, MIFF offers for visually impaired people unique experience that no one else offers to the global audience.

Franco-German TV channel Arte has help to adapt eight films to allow visually impaired people to follow them using "Audio Description." An actor's voice describes each scene and is transmitted by headset.

This developed strategy is huge boost to festival to distinguish itself from the other events of this kind, since the MIFF is a first on international scene to adopt the technique of "Audio Description".

The organizations of the MIFF have laud and paid tribute to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay Rachid who " honoured them with His generosity so that films can still enjoy by the blind and visually impaired" in Morocco.

The project, they added, "would not have been possible without the full material and moral support of His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid."

The top prize at the Marrakech International Film Festival has been awarded to ‘Wild Field’ by Georgian director Mikhail Kalatozishvili. The film, representing Russia, tells the story of a young doctor who chooses to work in the deserted steppe and becomes close to the local villagers.

Earlier this year Wild Field was singled out at the Venice Film Festival and also won several awards at the main Russian Film Festival.

Another Golden Star award went to Andrey Konchalovsky, a prominent film director, for his achievements in cinematography.

For this eighth edition, the IFFM provides a rare experience globally and unique nationally, It is the scheduling of a new section allowing a category of moviegoers who are visually impaired to follow the entire film using the "Audio Description" technique.

It is based on the description of film sequences through a voice transmitted by "headset" to people that are visually impaired or cannot see. The festival aims to distinguish itself in relation to other events of this kind, by adopting the technique of "Audio Description", which is a first in international film festivals including those held in Africa and the Arab world.

Thus only 8 films by renowned filmmakers have been selected and adapted by the technical development of the French-German channel ARTE, reported the initiators of this project, on Sunday at the Palais des Congress in Marrakech. Through this option, the IFFM is intended to encourage players of the audiovisual sector, including National Broadcasting and Television, to adopt such technology in national productions to allow greater availability to visually impaired individuals.

This will give them access to the cinema with the knowledge that it is regarded as a place of entertainment for the visually impaired as well. The initiators underlined this project at a press conference "although it is a first in Morocco, is a rewarding experience despite some hesitations. But we are confident the prospects are promising."

The communications manager of the project, Mr. Rashid SEBBAH, said that "it is thanks to this technology of audio description, which has the objective of promoting the film for the visually impaired, that will allow this specific category of film audience to enjoy their rights to culture, entertainment, dreams and the curiosity of the cinema" The 8th edition of the IFFM "oversaw the adoption of this new option to separate itself compared to other festivals of this kind, especially as the technique of " audio description "is a first in international film festivals organized in Africa and the Arab world" said the initiators.

The project, they added, "would not have been possible without the full material and moral support of His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid." They seized this opportunity to pay tribute to His Royal Highness who " honoured them with his generosity so that films can still enjoy by the blind and visually impaired" in Morocco.

They have also paid a great tribute to Her Highness the Princess Lamia Solh, president of the Alaouite Organization of the Protection of Blind Moroccans (OAPAM) who helped "the dissemination of information on this project within Blind institutions in Morocco, and transcription of documents in Braille in English and Arabic, distributed to blind and visually impaired spectators of the Festival.

" The participants also expressed their deep appreciation to the members of the IFFM Foundation, who sponsored and have extended a hand to this project. They finally delivered a very special tribute to the Franco-German ARTE channel, the principal assistant, who has chosen and technically adapted 8 films of emminent directors to be screened at the 8th edition of the IFFM.

Three films by Alfred Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train," "To Catch a Thief" and "The Birds," a film by Stanely. Kubrick's "Lolita", a film by David. Lean "Doctor Zhivago", a film by Richard. Attenborough "Gandhi", a film by James Ivory "A Room With A Life" and Michael. Apted film "Gorillas in the Mist."

Marrakech, November 20, 2008 -- In the esteem of highlighting the Marrakech International Film Festival's historical role, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay Rachid on Tuesday November 18th spent all day working at the Congress Palace of Marrakech, center ground of MIFF.

Crown Prince Moulay Rachid began his day grand touring and viewing every office in the facilities of the Congress Palace for a first hand inspection of the condition and presentation.

Crown Prince Moulay Rachid also met organizers of the MIFF, urged them to use all potential to reach expected levels and elevate toward the achievement of goals to ensure that the Festival continues to play its pioneering role.

Crown Prince Moulay Rachid also expressed admiration over the fantastic milestones on the way to industry’s victory achieved by the MIFF.

Impressively continuing to provide His philanthropy’s role in press freedom, Crown Prince Moulay Rachid also visited pressroom and spoke to the coordinators in charge of both national and international press.

The talks included on the importance commitments to democratic reform and media freedom, including detailed rules specifying MIFF.

The two sides also discussed prospects of enhancing cooperation, featured lists and ideas for the Festival.

Crown Prince Moulay Rachid later went to see all technology-rich equipment and the arrangements for feeding this 8th edition of the International Film Festival.

The working rendezvous came to reaffirm Crown Prince Moulay Rachid special care and support to preserving Morocco’s cultural heritage and His commitment to promoting its cultural richness.

Crown Prince Moulay Rachid was accompanied by the member of Marrakech International Film Festival Foundation.