Algerian Radio
A memorandum of understanding was signed on Tuesday in Algiers between the Mohamed-Lakhdar-Hamina National Higher Institute of Cinema and the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU), on the occasion of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of National Student Day.
The signing ceremony took place at the Moufdi-Zakaria Palace of Culture, under the supervision of the Minister of Culture and Arts, Malika Bendouda, in the presence of the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Algeria, Jan Czerny, the Director of the Mohamed-Lakhdar-Hamina Higher Institute of Cinema, Bachir Bensalem, as well as the directors of training schools and institutes under the Ministry of Culture and Arts.
In an address on this occasion, the Minister praised this agreement concluded with "one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions in the world in the field of cinematic and audiovisual training." She highlighted that it aims to develop training in the cinematic and audiovisual fields and to raise the level of artistic and academic performance through the exchange of professional expertise between the two countries.
Ms. Bendouda specified that this agreement constitutes a "qualitative step" in strengthening cultural and academic cooperation between Algeria and the Czech Republic, opening "promising prospects for students and teachers to benefit from a world-renowned academic experience" through the organization of training workshops, specialized conferences, joint artistic and research projects, as well as the exchange of educational resources.
For his part, Mr. Bensalem indicated that the cooperation agreement with FAMU aims to "develop Algerian cinematic skills through the exchange of academic expertise, student visits, and joint teaching."
This memorandum aspires to "support graduation projects and grant them an international and competitive dimension," to "modernize pedagogical programs and audiovisual production," and to "contribute to the popularization of Algerian cinema in Prague and around the world, through the organization of mutual cinematic weeks," he added.
In turn, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Algeria welcomed the growing level of cultural and artistic cooperation between Algeria and his country, particularly in the field of cinema. He added that the purpose of this agreement is to "facilitate the exchange of expertise, students, and teachers between specialized institutes in the two countries."
This initiative also aims, the Ambassador added, to "strengthen the bonds of creativity, develop the skills of young people in the arts of comic books, digital design, and the gaming industry, and open new prospects for joint cinematic projects between the two countries."
On the sidelines of the signing ceremony for this agreement, several activities were organized on the occasion of the celebration of Student Day. These notably included visual and musical performances presented by students from institutes and schools under the Culture sector, in addition to a drawing workshop.
