24/11/2003

The Gladiator by Ridley Scott and Alexander by Oliver Stone are just two of the blockbuster movies that have been filmed in Ouarzazate, Morocco. And this year, the studios involved in many international big bucks productions will be the venue for a training school for technicians and film workers. The training will be reserved for Moroccan students, with study grants and courses to learn Italian. The initiative (The Euro-Mediterranean Centre in Cinematography and Audiovisual works) is being set up following an agreement signed by the Moroccan government, Cinecittà Holding, the Istituto Luce and the Lazio Region.

Luciano Sovena, the MD at Luce, outlined the project and highlighted some facts and figures: there have been 52 feature length films and 20 shorts filmed at Ouarzazate this year, including the first Italian-Moroccan co-production (with Morocco having the major share) A Casablanca gli angeli non volano. Luce will manage the training courses (directing, photography, sound, screenwriting, subjects and editing) with 80% of the costs covered by the Region and a contribution of 20% from Cinecittà Holding. The initiative also involves the setting up of two branches, in Italy and Morocco, to encourage co-productions, by providing services and information.