This year, the International Film Festival of Marrackech comes to maturity and appears confirming the identity desired by and sought for within its founding team. This occurred thanks to a rigorous and imaginative selection of programming in which world various cultures will look at each other and engage a dialogue at all the venues of the Festival, whether at the official competition, amongst the Jury, or in the professional meetings.

The new vice-presidents, Mr. Nour-Eddine Saïl, and Mr. Faïçal Laraïchi, who are pursuing the work of their predecessor, Mr. Andre Azoulay, have the major task of continuing to make out of this event a professional one.

This is the reason why I have encouraged them to take contact with the most performing organisations in the field of events production. Public System Cinema which has proved itself in Deauville and throughout the world has been selected; I wish them all success in this partnership.

This year better than the former one, and I hope more and more in the future, the organisers have the ambition to please the curiosity of the festival-goers who are in greater numbers. They also will work out so that the citizens of Marrakech appropriate the festival which is matching the window of Morocco, a country asserted in its values and resolute in its options while open to the outside world.

I wish a good festival to everyone, and let Marrakech be magic!