Ali Zaoua gets grand-prix of Morocco's cinema festival

The Grand-Prix of the Moroccan National Cinema Festival went to feature-film Ali Zaoua of Nabil Ayouch.

The film also won the dialogue and scenario prizes of this 6th cinema festival held in Marrakesh January 28 through February 3 as well as the jury's special prize.

The movie which deals with street children in Morocco and which stars real homeless children had already won the ecumenical Prize at Montreal's World Cinema Festival last September for its "artistic qualities and contribution to human progress and in recognition of its spiritual, social and ethical values."

Last November, the film also won the Grand-Prix for best film of the international Stockholm festival and the Grand-Prix of the 49th international Mannheim-Heidelberg festival.

The film will be featured at the 17th Panafrican cinema and TV festival "FESPACO" scheduled for February 24 through March 3 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Mostapha Derkaoui was awarded the best director prize for "Les Amours de haj Mokhtar Soldi" film, which also won the image prize.

The prize for the best actor went to Bachir Skirej and the prize for the best actress to Amina Rachid.

The prize rewarding a first work went to Ahmed Boulam for "Ali, Rabea et les autres."