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Today, only 27 theatres remain open across Morocco, which has a population of of 37 million.

The ABC cinema in Casablanca, which was built in 1948, was forced to shut down in 2020 owing to the coronavirus pandemic. All photos by AFP

Yahla Yahla, who worked as a projectionist in Morocco for 35 years, at the empty Le Rif cinema in Casablanca.

Despite nine million dirhams of funding for the Moroccan Centre for Cinematography, which promotes and regulates film, the industry is struggling to extract itself from the crisis.

A man carries a bag of merchandise at the entrance of the "Al Malaki" cinema, located in the heart of the market in the working-class neighbourhood of Derb Sultan, in the western Moroccan city of Casablanca, on January 24, 2022. - During the coronavirus pandemic, cinemas across Morocco were closed for over a year before reopening in July 2021. But despite nine million dirhams (850,000 euros) of funding for the Moroccan Centre for Cinematography (CCM), which promotes and regulates film, the industry is struggling to extract itself from the crisis. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)

Al-Malaki cinema was commissioned by King Mohammed V in the 1940s, but now lies closed and derelict.

A man sits between boxes piled up at the entrance of the "Al Malaki" cinema, located in the heart of the market in the working-class neighbourhood of Derb Sultan, in the western Moroccan city of Casablanca, on January 24, 2022. - During the coronavirus pandemic, cinemas across Morocco were closed for over a year before reopening in July 2021. But despite nine million dirhams (850,000 euros) of funding for the Moroccan Centre for Cinematography (CCM), which promotes and regulates film, the industry is struggling to extract itself from the crisis. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)

'I have unforgettable memories from that cinema. I learned my trade there,' says Yahla Yahla, recalling working at the Regent theatre in Meknes.

Today, only 27 theatres remain open across Morocco, which has a population of of 37 million.

The ABC cinema in Casablanca, which was built in 1948, was forced to shut down in 2020 owing to the coronavirus pandemic. All photos by AFP

Yahla Yahla, who worked as a projectionist in Morocco for 35 years, at the empty Le Rif cinema in Casablanca.

Despite nine million dirhams of funding for the Moroccan Centre for Cinematography, which promotes and regulates film, the industry is struggling to extract itself from the crisis.

A man carries a bag of merchandise at the entrance of the "Al Malaki" cinema, located in the heart of the market in the working-class neighbourhood of Derb Sultan, in the western Moroccan city of Casablanca, on January 24, 2022. - During the coronavirus pandemic, cinemas across Morocco were closed for over a year before reopening in July 2021. But despite nine million dirhams (850,000 euros) of funding for the Moroccan Centre for Cinematography (CCM), which promotes and regulates film, the industry is struggling to extract itself from the crisis. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)

Al-Malaki cinema was commissioned by King Mohammed V in the 1940s, but now lies closed and derelict.

A man sits between boxes piled up at the entrance of the "Al Malaki" cinema, located in the heart of the market in the working-class neighbourhood of Derb Sultan, in the western Moroccan city of Casablanca, on January 24, 2022. - During the coronavirus pandemic, cinemas across Morocco were closed for over a year before reopening in July 2021. But despite nine million dirhams (850,000 euros) of funding for the Moroccan Centre for Cinematography (CCM), which promotes and regulates film, the industry is struggling to extract itself from the crisis. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)

'I have unforgettable memories from that cinema. I learned my trade there,' says Yahla Yahla, recalling working at the Regent theatre in Meknes.

Today, only 27 theatres remain open across Morocco, which has a population of of 37 million.

Only 27 cinemas remain open in Morocco, as Casablanca's ramshackle theatres shut

Enthusiasts are calling for better protection for the buildings, architectural treasures that bear witness to the North African country's love for movies in the past

AFP

February 03, 2022

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