Empowering Moroccan female filmmakers: Interview with EAVE graduate Lamia Chraibi on Tamayouz Cinéma Foundation

“Mentoring goes beyond sharing facts; it's about exchanging experiences, providing advice and creating a safe space to ask questions without judgment”

By Lilla Kadar

Since its creation in 1988, EAVE has been actively involved in the global transformation of the European film industry as a key player, promoting cross-border and interdisciplinary collaboration. We empower graduates to become agents of change, shaping their local, regional and national communities like "rings in the water". The EAVE community is committed to sharing its experience and expertise to support and transform business - and society - in a collaborative effort.

New tutors and experts constantly emerge from the pool of past participants, and knowledge spreads globally through community members. We explore this "ripple effect" in a series of interviews where EAVE graduates talk about their inspiring new initiatives, such as training programs, funding initiatives or networking events in their countries, with the aim of making an impact on the industry.

EAVE graduate Lamia Chraibi is one of the five founders of the Tamayouz Cinéma Foundation in Morocco, which aims to give young Moroccan women easier access to the film industry, particularly in the production sector. It also aims to encourage young female talent, foster exchanges and collaboration in the region, and create equal opportunities and greater visibility for Moroccan filmmakers at home and internationally.

EAVE: Could you give us an overview of the Tamayouz Cinéma Foundation's activities in Morocco and the specific professionals it targets?

Lamia Chraibi: The Tamayouz Cinéma Foundation aims to provide young female talent with the necessary platform to professionalize their production skills, help them move from improvisation to professionalism in independent film production and gain visibility on the national and international scenes.

What kind of support do you give to female talent, and how does your initiative contribute to better access to the national and international film industry?

Our initiative provides support for female talent aspiring to enter the film industry. We offer scholarships to young women wishing to enter Morocco's private film school, ESAV. In addition, we support them in the development phase of their first feature film by organizing workshops that accompany them through the development phase of their first feature film. We offer ongoing mentoring to guide them through the process of structuring the project, both in terms of writing and financing.

We are aware of the financial difficulties that often accompany the development of film projects in our part of the world. To remedy this, we want to provide financial assistance to project owners, covering various development expenses.

It's very important to establish networks within the Moroccan film industry and among our participants: through these connections, we facilitate dialogue and awareness-raising on gender issues, creating a supportive community that strengthens talent and gives them better access to opportunities in the national and international film industry.

What are the main issues and challenges facing the Moroccan film industry that you hope to address with the program?

First of all, we're tackling the problem of insufficient communication between industry professionals and supervisory bodies. The main objective is to improve coordination and alignment between stakeholders, in order to facilitate operations and growth within the industry. We are also tackling the limited representation of women in the film professions. We strive to break down barriers and create pathways for female talent to enter and thrive in diverse roles within the industry, promoting diversity and inclusion. Our program tackles gender disparities, both on screen and behind the camera. We seek to challenge stereotypes and promote equality between men and women throughout the film production process.

We also try to address the problem of elitist access to the industry by offering opportunities, resources and support to budding filmmakers from diverse backgrounds. By democratizing access and creating pathways for emerging talent, we aim to create a more inclusive and representative film community.

We need to recognize the pervasiveness of the problem of harassment, particularly in male-dominated industries like film. Through education, advocacy and support systems, we are trying to create safer and more respectful working environments, ensuring that all individuals can pursue their passion for filmmaking without fear or intimidation.

Finally, our program aims to address the significant absence of creative producers capable of driving change. By providing training, mentoring and networking opportunities, we aim to give a new generation of producers the skills, knowledge and vision to positively transform Moroccan cinema.

How does the Tamayouz Foundation plan to contribute to the long-term sustainability and growth of the Moroccan film industry? Are there any strategic partnerships or collaborations in the pipeline?

We have strategic partnerships with leading academic institutions, notably our collaboration with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, and we are working closely with the Ministries of Culture and the Moroccan Film Center. Also, by working with Moroccan film schools, ISMAC and ESAV, we ensure that we remain connected to the next generation of talent. We open our doors to young graduates and offer them concrete opportunities in the film world. We are committed to supporting their successful transition into the industry.

Our aim is to collaborate with the Atlas workshops of the Marrakech International Film Festival, a prestigious platform for international film professionals. By joining this festival, we will be offering young Moroccan producers a unique opportunity to showcase their work and prove themselves on the international scene. This is an important first step for them, as it's taking place in their own country.

We would also like to emphasize that during our training courses, we attach great importance to the rigorous selection of speakers. We ensure that they are experienced and recognized professionals in their field, to guarantee that participants benefit from diverse expertise and constant updates on the realities of the film industry.

In your experience, what role does mentoring play in nurturing emerging talent, particularly in the context of the Moroccan film industry? Can you share any success stories or notable impacts resulting from the mentoring programs?

We are currently in discussion with internationally recognized Moroccan producers to host young producers for a mentoring program throughout the making of their first feature film. We firmly believe in the importance of personalized support for emerging talent, and this mentorship will offer them a unique opportunity to learn from seasoned experts in the Moroccan film industry, who have proven themselves on a global scale. The exchange of knowledge will encourage innovation and strengthen ties between generations of Moroccan film professionals. Collaborating with a reputable production company with an extensive filmography can bring invaluable credibility to young producers starting out in the field. They will benefit not only from advice and expertise but also from the enhancement of their legitimacy through association with the established track record of the company.

Mentoring plays a crucial role for emerging talent in the Moroccan film industry. Despite formal education, there are practical challenges to navigating the industry, often without accessible guidance. Mentoring goes beyond sharing facts; it's about exchanging experiences, providing advice and creating a safe space to ask questions without judgment. For example, the invaluable support and advice provided by Noreddine Sail was instrumental in the early stages of my career, and the lessons learned from this mentoring still stay with me today.

In its early years, the Tamayouz Cinéma Foundation had the privilege of supporting talented individuals through scholarships. Zineb Ouakrim stood out, her short film winning a prize in the Cinef' program at the Cannes Film Festival. Basma Rkioui successfully completed her studies at the FEMIS summer school and the Filmakademie, marking a milestone in her cinematic career. Houda El Anbri entered the professional arena by securing a position in the dubbing industry.

What are your upcoming events and projects? Are there any initiatives on the horizon that you're particularly excited about, or that you think will have a significant impact?

I'm delighted with the launch of the first of three sessions of TAP01 (our first program designed to support our talented young professionals in developing their projects in line with international industry standards), and we're already planning the second edition, taking into account current developments. We look forward to continuing our scholarship program. In addition, we recognize a great need for knowledge in the field of distribution, and are therefore planning to organize a workshop for producers and distributors. We are also looking forward to expanding our team to approach more funding opportunities and to plan the future of Ateliers professionnels Tamayouz with a stronger budget for more action.
 

Page published 22 April 2024. Updated 30 April 2024.