The curtain was raised on the 17th edition of the Salé International Women’s Film Festival on the evening of Monday 23 September 2024 at the Hollywood cinema, in the presence of the Governor of the Salé Prefecture, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Hungarian Ambassador, a number of diplomatic, artistic and community figures, representatives of the elected councils of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region and a large audience of citizens.

Organised from 23 to 28 September by the Bouregreg Association under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Festival provides a platform for female filmmakers from a variety of backgrounds to share their respective experiences, debate the challenges facing their profession and issues relating to the status of women through cinema.

In a welcoming speech, Noureddine Chemaou, President of the Bouregreg Association and President of the Festival, pointed out that this 17th edition of the Festival coincides with the rehabilitation and enhancement of the material heritage of the city of Salé, and that the public will have the opportunity, for the first time as part of the Festival, to attend open-air screenings in the different areas of the old medina of Salé.

Mr Chemaou also highlighted the diversity of screening venues and the wealth of daily activities organised as part of this cinematic event, underlining the special place that the Festival has given to young people in its programming, notably through training workshops.

For his part, Omar Sentissi, President of the Salé Local Council, emphasised that the organisation of the festival, like other events in the city, was part of the drive to strengthen Salé’s role in the Kingdom’s cultural development, particularly in the film industry.

He also added that over the years, this cultural event has acquired a high profile both nationally and internationally, thanks to its constant openness to Moroccan and foreign women’s films.

The opening ceremony of this 17th edition was marked by a tribute to pioneering female filmmakers from Morocco and elsewhere, notably the Egyptian actress Dalia El Beheri for her remarkable career in cinema and television, and the Moroccan actress Saâdia Ladib for her outstanding cinematographic career.

At the same ceremony, the members of the jury for the Official Feature Film Competition, chaired by Moroccan actress and director Maryam Touzani, the jury for the Documentary Film Competition, chaired by Danielle Davie from Lebanon, and the jury for the Young Audience Award, chaired by director and producer Narjisse Tahiri, were introduced.

The audience was then treated to a portrait of the director and pioneer of Hungarian cinema, Márta Mészáros, as well as extracts from films in the Festival’s general programme.

On the occasion of the celebration of the nativity of the Prophet Sidna Mohammed in the year 1446 of the Hegira, the city of Salé lived to the rhythm of the solemn candle procession, an age-old cultural event dating back to the sixteenth century and commonly referred to by the local population as ‘the parade or moussem of waxes’. Followed and acclaimed by an overflowing crowd in jubilation, this festive procession of a multitude of candle towers in shimmering colours, in the shape of minarets adorned with alveoli made of wax and bearing inscriptions to the glory of Allah and the ‘Baraka’ of his ultimate messenger, This sumptuous procession winds its way through the narrow streets and main thoroughfares of the old medina of Salé, passing through the Place Achouhada (Bab Bouhaja) and ending at the mausoleum of Sidi Abdellah Benhassoun.  In addition to the Chorfas Hassouni, the parade included schoolchildren carrying their Leuh (a wooden board on which verses from the Koran are written), as well as folklore and panegyric groups from different regions of the Kingdom.

The ceremony, organised under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, was attended by a number of personalities, including the governor of the city of Salé, the president of the Salé commune, Mr Omar Sentissi, members of the commune council and the presidents of the arrondissement councils, as well as elected representatives and several ambassadors accredited to Morocco.

The President of the Communal Council of Salé informs the public that the for the sectoral development plan project of the Meknès road and its regulations will be available at the seat of the urban planning authorization office of the Salé commune (Bettana) during the period from August 26 to September 26, 2024.

A file and a register for observations will be made available to the public at the same location during official working hours.

Notice of Submission

On the occasion of Youth Day, Mr. Omar Sentissi, President of the Salé municipal council, on his own behalf and that of the members of the council, the municipal officials and the cityzens of Salé, presents his best congratulations and his most sincere wishes to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God perpetuate his glory and triumph, praying to Almighty God to preserve the Sovereign, perpetuate upon him the benefits of health, grant him long life and fulfill him in the persons of HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, HRH Princess Lalla Khadija, HRH Prince Moulay Rachid and all the members of the illustrious Royal Family.

On the occasion of the commemoration of the Revolution of the King and the People, the president of the municipal council of Salé, Mr. Omar Sentissi, has the great honor to express, on his own behalf and that of the members of the council, the officials of the municipality, as well as the cityzens of Salé, his sincere congratulations and wishes of blessing to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, imploring the Most High to renew this glorious occasion for His Majesty, the royal family and the Moroccan people, with even more progress and prosperity, and to fill the sovereign in the persons of HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, HRH Princess Lalla Khadija, HRH Prince Moulay Rachid and all the members of the illustrious Royal Family.