King Mohammed VI dedicates cinema studios in Ouarzazate
Morocco, Economics, 1/13/2005

Morocco's King Mohammed VI dedicated this Wednesday in the southern Moroccan city of Ouarzazate a compound of cinema studios, a joint project by Italian and Moroccan producers, Dino De Laurentiis-Cinecitta and Said Alj.

The compound, built on 160 ha, cost 70 million DH (6.3 million Euros), including 20 millions (1.8 million Euros) for equipment.

The "Dino De Laurentiis-Cinecitta" studios include two shooting sets, of 2,357 square meters each, four workshops of set decoration crafts of 2,400 square meters each, three production workshops (2,452 msq each), a site for costumes and dresses, a restaurant with a capacity of 200 meals per hour and an architecture and decoration workshop.

The studios compound with a capacity to host 3 to 5 movies annually, was designed in the respect of local architecture patterns such as tours and kasbahs (old forts).

After watching a documentary on the compound and shooting techniques and the potentials available in the city, the sovereign extended the Wissam al kaffa al fikria (decoration of intellectual merit) to Dino De Laurentiis, cinema producer and CEO of Dino De Laurentiss production company, and to Luigi Abete, also a movie producer and chairman of the Cinecittˆ studios and of the Italian enterprise association.

The king also awarded to Said Alj, a Moroccan movie producer and president of "Sanam Holding," and to Soheil Ben Barka, producer and director, the Wissam Al Arch (Throne decoration) of the knight order.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan city and Hollywood project twinning   (7/3/2004)
  Official visits construction site of cinema studios in Ouarzazate   (1/7/2004)
  Oliver Stone's Alexander to be shot in Morocco   (7/12/2003)

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