House of Representatives Adopts Government Bill on Film Industry and the Reorganization of the Moroccan Cinematographic Center

The House of Representatives adopted on Monday, November 4, 2024, by a majority of votes Government Bill 18.23 on the film industry and the reorganization of the Moroccan Cinematographic Center. The adoption took place during a legislative plenary sitting chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Mohamed Sabbari, and attended by the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid.

The Bill aims to unify the main principles and rules of regulating the film industry and reorganizing the Moroccan Cinematographic Center in one text operating as the Code of Cinema. The Bill also aims to create a modern and advanced film industry based on the principles of good governance, equal opportunities, and transparency. 

The Bill brings about several new provisions related to the establishment of legal regulations on granting licenses to practice film production, as well as the establishment of a new system for obtaining international licenses for production in favor of legal persons or individuals who are not subjected to the Moroccan Law. Besides, the Bill aims to encourage national and foreign investment in film industry by facilitating the procedures and following up the dynamic of reform the Kingdom is witnessing.

The Bill also enables the Moroccan Cinematographic Center to accompany private production companies with a filming license, upon their demand, in obtaining other permits to access particular filming sites. Besides, the Bill stipulates the respect of the constants of the Kingdom and the public order and ethics in the movie scenario while adhering to not making any major changes to the latter. 

Moreover, the Bill obliges the universities, institutions, and institutes of training in the professions of the cinema and audiovisual field to declare before the Moroccan Cinematographic Center the activities of their students. It also enables companies and associations to request licenses to use movie theaters.