Ouarzazate's Cinema City Project Under Scrutiny Amid Relocation Rumors
The long-anticipated Cinema City project in Ouarzazate, Morocco, has become a focal point of political debate following a parliamentary inquiry from Rachid Hammouni of the PPS (Progressive Socialist Party). The inquiry was directed to the Minister of Culture, Mehdi Bensaïd, and has sparked significant controversy concerning the project's delayed progress and the unsettling rumors about its potential relocation to the outskirts of Rabat. With the backdrop of the film industry being a vital economic pillar for Ouarzazate, stakeholders are voicing concerns over the implications of moving this project away from its intended location.
Hammouni's inquiry brought attention to the stagnation of the Cinema City project, which has lingered for nearly two decades since its official introduction to King Mohammed VI. He highlighted that all necessary technical and economic studies have been completed and that the land designated for the project has been secured. However, despite this progress, the project remains in limbo, raising doubts about the Ministry of Culture's ability to fulfill commitments to global investors and filmmakers who regard Ouarzazate as an irreplaceable natural film set.
In response to the uproar, a representative from the Culture Department has categorically denied the rumors of a relocation, suggesting that there is a misunderstanding—whether intentional or not—between two distinct projects currently in development. On one hand, there is the state-backed Cinema City project in Ouarzazate, an initiative that the Ministry is spearheading in collaboration with the Interior and Tourism ministries, which has reportedly allocated a specific budget in the 2026 Finance Law for this purpose. This project aligns with Bensaïd's vision to transform cinema into a robust cultural industry, crucial for regional development.
On the other hand, a separate private venture known as Argan Studios, led by producer Khadija Alami, is underway in Rabat. This endeavor, financed through private investment totaling 700 million dirhams across 80 hectares, is entirely independent from the national Cinema City project. The distinction between these two projects is vital, as conflating them can lead to misunderstandings regarding their objectives and funding sources.
Ultimately, the fate of the Moroccan Hollywood remains uncertain, and as the 2026 budget approaches, the question looms: will it provide the necessary resources to propel the Ouarzazate Cinema City project out of its prolonged state of inactivity?
As reported by fr.le360.ma.
