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“I am in favor of the reunification of Africa through cinema” (producer Khadija Alami)

Rabat, March 13, 2023 (AIB)-The short film Tikitat-A-Soulima by young director Ayoub Layoussifi was screened on Sunday evening at the opening of the 1st edition of Roots Rabat-Les Journées du Cinéma Panafricain. Producer Khadija Alami from Morocco lives between Morocco and Los Angeles, USA. She confided in the microphone of the special envoy of the AIB in Rabat. She talks about the production conditions of the short film, Roots-Rabat and its studio based in the Moroccan city of Ouarzazate. Interview.

Burkina Information Agency (AIB): What summary can we make of the short film Tikitat-A-Soulima by young director Ayoub Layoussifi?

Producer Khadija Alami: The story of Tikitat-Soulama is the story of a little boy who lives in a popular neighborhood.

The neighborhood had its last movie theater which was to make its last screening before its final closure.

The child absolutely wanted to go see spiderman before closing time and he will do everything to go.

The film was screened tonight (Sunday night). I am delighted to be here, to meet my African friends.

AIB: Under what conditions was the short film Tikitat-A-Soulima shot?

Producer Khadija Alami: Director Ayoub Layoussifi approached me for the script. He worked for three years on it until we were ready.

Since we had children on set, we had to shoot for 8 days so as not to have very long days, but the shooting took place in very good conditions.

We are lucky to have extraordinary technicians in Morocco and everyone responded.

Despite the fact that we didn’t have a lot of money, we managed to make a nice film which did very well, which was screened at festivals and won numerous awards.

I’m very proud of it. Congratulations to the director because it was his first short film.

AIB: What do you think of Roots Rabat-Les Journées du Cinéma Panafricain?

Producer Khadija Alami: I think Roots Rabat is an excellent initiative. I am in favor of the reunification of Africa in cinema, culture and music.

I think we are an extraordinary continent with a lot of stories that go very far back in time.

We have nothing to envy to other countries and we must unite to be able to make films in order to be competitors of Hollywood and others. We have all the means.

I had the opportunity to go to two Festivals in Nigeria but I did not have the opportunity to go to French-speaking countries but it is on my list.

AIB: As a producer, you’ve been running a studio for almost ten years. Can you tell us about it?

Producer Khadija Alami: I built my studio in Ouarzazate between 2013 and 2015. There is a 300 square meter film set, another 1000 square meter is under construction.

There are 12,000 square meters of scenery. We can make a village, a temple, a palace and I have the objective to build more decorations.

I invite all my compatriots who don’t have a lot of means to come and film.

I have students from the film school who can also come to shoot for free and if I can do collaborations by putting the studio in return with our African friends, I will be happy to do so.

Source: Burkina Information Agency