Khouribga African cinema festival kicks off next week

The 8th Khouribga African Cinema festival will be held July 14-21.

The festival, held under the aegis of King Mohammed VI, features 17 films from Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, gabon, Guinea, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Tunisia and Zimbabwe.

The Jury, chaired by Moroccan Mohammed Berrada, includes six members, namely Amar Laskri (Algeria), Jacques Behanzin (Benin), Gerard le Chene (Canada), Hashim Nahhas (Egypt), Abdoulay Ascofare (Mali) and Layla Chaouni (Morocco).

The festival, held under the topic "cinema and friendship between peoples" in tribute to Senegalese Ives Badara Diane and Tunisian Taher Chriaa, will award several prizes including a Grand Prix worth 70,000 DH (about US$ 7,000).

The festival features several cultural activities, such as books dedication and a colloquy on "image and local cultures of Africa, and a round table on "Cinema and Media."