11th Edition of International Documentary Festival of Agadir Awards Grand Prix to Moroccan Film Amussu
On June 22, 2019, the 11th edition of the Agadir International Documentary Film Festival (FIDADOC) took place. Casablanca-born director Nadir Bouhmouch’s film Amussu won the Grand Prix award. The 27-year old Bouhmouch wrote the creative documentary to highlight social issues in Morocco. The film tells the real-life story of how Amazigh villagers from Imider struggled as a result of overexploitation of their natural resources by Africa’s largest silver mine, Managem. Although the villager’s problems included facing important issues like hunger and poverty, Amussu explains the politics of the province in a peaceful manner. Imider is a commune in the Tinghir Province of the Drâa-Tafilalet.
Nadir Bouhmouch’s Amussu tells the real-life story of how Amazigh villagers from Imider struggled as a result of the overexploitation of their natural resources by Africa’s largest silver mine, Managem.
The film introduces poetic cinematographic elements like landscapes, folk songs, costumes, and dialogues. Amussu was produced by The Movement on Road ’96. The award was presented by a jury composed of 4 Moroccan and foreign personalities at the Brahim Radi Hall of the Municipality of Agadir.
Bouhmouch expressed his hope that the film will “defend the environmental and social rights of Imider, challenge capitalism, and expose Managem corporation to accept the demands of Amussu.”
Throughout November 2019, Amussu will be featured in all the French Institutes throughout Morocco’s Imperial Cities.
FIDADOC is the brainchild of the belated Moroccan film producer Nouzha Drissi. Since 1996, her fifty series and single productions won awards at French and foreign film festivals. Drissi aimed to develop a culture of documentary cinema in Morocco. The first FIDADOC took place in 2008. It is the first Moroccan film event to exclusively showcase documentaries. Annually it selects 35 films from five continents. The chosen documentaries are intended to educate, offer cultural activities throughout the Agadir and Souss Massa region, and promote the region’s culture.