Measures of encouragement put in place to promote national film production date back to 1980, with the setting up of the film-production assistance fund.
Between 1980 and 1987, the fund enabled the production of 35 feature films and 30 short films. However, the fund showed its limitations, two in particular: (1) automatic, non-selective support did not seem to bring about emulation amongst film makers, and (2) the Fund’s resources remained limited.
In order to enable the fund to better play its role in developing national production, the Centre Cinématographique Marocain, in 1987 and in concert with professional chambers, set up a new system aimed at improving the Fund’s resources and based on a tax on cinema tickets.
A new work programme was put in place that brought about selective assistance before or after production. That new arrangement enabled the national film industry to make 58 feature films and 38 short films in the period from 1987 to 1999.
2003 saw the implementation of a new regulation, the Advance on Receipts, which is aimed at providing increased support for national production.
Since then, assistance for national film production has been given as follows:
Pre-production and post-production advances on receipts for feature films and short films presented by Moroccan film-production companies.
A financial contribution to writing and re-writing film scripts for feature films and short films.
Furthermore, a quality premium may be granted to feature films and short films having received a pre-production advance on receipts.
Decree setting out the conditions, rules, and criteria for granting support for film production
Specifications of the national film-production assistance fund
| Pre-production advances on receipts | Post-production advances on receipts |
|---|---|
| 5 January for the first session | 24 January for the first session |
| 5 May for the second session | 24 May for the second session |
| 5 September for the third session | 24 September for the third session |
| Documentaries on Saharawi culture, history and space Hassanis before production |
|---|
| 5 February for the first session |
| 5 June for the second session |
| 5 October for the third session |