Cinémathèque de Tanger

The Cinémathèque de Tanger was born into a void. In 2004, this artist-run non-profit organization was founded in a city with no concert hall, no theatre, no public library, and with only four cinemas surviving out of a former 20.

The broader fact is that across the Maghreb and the Middle East – a region which has historically been one of the planet's most fertile cultural spaces -- the cultural infrastructure has been atrophying for decades.

This is due to a lack of the state and public investment, apathy from the private donors, and an official suspicion towards culture itself as tending to encourage dissent.

It has thus fallen to artists across the Middle East to fight for their societies' cultural survival, and a small number of artist-run and alternative culture spaces have bloomed across the region – art galleries, theatres, cine-clubs, cinemas and artisanal groups.

But until recently, no network has existed to link these fledgling groups together. The difficulty of circulation – obstacles of borders, transportation and visas – has blocked the flow of cultural energy internally in the region.

Ironically, as a constellation of these small private initiatives begin to take form, they are forging their alliances as meetings outside the region -- in London, Paris and Amsterdam.

In February 2007, the Cinémathèque de Tanger opened its doors on the Grand Socco plaza, in a restored Landmark building, the 1938 Cinema Rif. Today, the Cinémathèque is North Africa’s only Art House Cinema, showing the best of contemporary and classic film in the historic heart of Tangier, Morocco. In its first two years, it welcomed tens of thousands of spectators, from all walks of life, to some 250 films from more than 20 countries.

Since opening, the Cinémathèque has welcomed visiting Film Festivals and invited directors to present their films in Tangier. It has also hosted filmmaking workshops.

The CdT believes that nations construct their futures from a meaningful knowledge of their past. Thus it has begun creating a film archive collection, focussing on documentary and artist videos from North Africa and the Middle East.

It has also guest-curated programs from this rich and growing vault of film treasures, which spans from the first colour films shot in Morocco to the work of cutting edge contemporary artists. These programs have been shown in different regions of the world.

The express mission of the Cinémathèque de Tanger (CdT) is to develop film culture in Morocco. It aims to provide Tangier’s public with quality programming that reflects the rich diversity of motion pictures, beyond the commercial movies which dominate Moroccan consumption.

Its mission is to:

•    Promote world cinema in Morocco, and Moroccan cinema in the world.
•    Act as a platform for cross-cultural exchange and dialogue.
•    Create a film archive featuring documentary and experimental films and video art.
•    Host workshops and educational activities for children, community groups, and filmmakers

Period

CdT network partner from the 1st of October 2009 till the 31st of September 2012. CdT receives the amount of 180.000 Euros for this period of three years.

Website

http://www.cinemathequedetanger.com/

 

 

 

 

Cinematheque de Tanger outside

Cinematheque de Tanger inside

Film poster from Tanger

Contact

For information on the Network programme please contact Joumana El Zein J.elzein@princeclausfund.nl