The summit was co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and brought together public officials, industry executives, creators, producers, distributors, digital platforms, video game professionals, technology companies and international organizations.
Morocco’s participation was marked by its accession to the Lumière Alliance as a founding member, placing the country among the institutions forming the first global network bringing together national cinema institutions from around the world.
The alliance aims to provide a platform for members to exchange experiences, best practices and views on the major challenges facing the film industry.
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Morocco was represented at the summit by Abdelaziz El Boujdaïni, secretary-general of the Communications Sector at the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, and Reda Benjelloun, director of the Moroccan Cinematographic Center.
According to a joint statement from the ministry and the Moroccan Cinematographic Center, Morocco’s participation reflects its international cooperation in cinema, audiovisual production and moving images, as well as its efforts to contribute to international dialogue and promote cultural diversity.
The kingdom also intends to bring its experience to the alliance, along with its position as a link between Africa, the Arab world, the Mediterranean region and Europe.
The summit brought together around 200 participants from more than 60 countries. Discussions focused on the future of cinema and the challenges facing the industry, including the rapid development of artificial intelligence, production financing and changing business models.
The summit also explored ways to help the entertainment industry adapt to technological change while competing with social media platforms and reaching new audiences, particularly in Africa and South Asia.
Another focus was protecting creators’ rights as new technologies become increasingly integrated into film production.
Alongside its founding membership in the Lumière Alliance, Morocco will participate in the IRIS program, an international initiative focused on the resilience of independent cinemas.
The kingdom will also take part in a pilot program on image education. The summit’s name pays tribute to French cinema pioneers Auguste and Louis Lumière.
During the summit, Macron announced that France and South Korea would invest 1 billion euros over the next five years to support the “image sector” and strengthen cultural sovereignty.
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He also stressed the need to protect copyright and announced the creation of the IRIS organization for independent cinemas, aimed at preserving the diversity of the independent cinema model and supporting its future.
The summit seeks to develop practical strategies and new partnerships to help the global film industry respond to technological change, address funding shortages and protect the role of creators as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly prominent.
