Fez — The Moroccan Cinematographic Center, commonly known as the CCM, has introduced a new procedure requiring the verification of registered contracts between production companies and screenwriters as a condition for accessing public support for national film production at the pre-production stage.

The CCM said the measure will apply starting with the first funding session of 2026, and will focus on confirming that the screenplay author information submitted on the CCM’s digital support platform matches records already declared in official registers.

What the CCM will verify

Under the new process, the CCM will check the conformity of data related to the screenplay author declared online with data previously filed either in the National Cinema Register or in the public register under Law 70.17. The verification notably covers the registration of the contract linking the relevant production company to the relevant screenwriter.

In practice, this means applications for pre-production support will be examined alongside documentary proof that the screenwriter’s contract has been formally registered, aligning administrative records across the CCM’s platform and national registers.

A move tied to Morocco’s new cinema law

The CCM framed the procedure as part of implementing Law 18.23 on the film industry and the reorganization of the CCM, along with the regulatory texts connected to that legal framework.

By anchoring the measure in the new legal architecture, the CCM signals a push toward stricter traceability in Moroccan film production, including clearer documentation of creative authorship and contractual relationships from the earliest stage of project development.

Protecting screenwriters’ rights

Beyond administrative compliance, the CCM said the goal is also to guarantee the protection of screenwriters’ rights as authors contracting with production companies.

For screenwriters, contract registration can serve as a concrete safeguard in a sector where disputes over authorship, remuneration, or credit can emerge late in the production process. For producers, the change raises the compliance bar at the application stage, making paperwork and registration timelines part of the funding strategy rather than a step handled after support is secured.