FIFM Welcomes Martin Scorsese as Guest of Honor, Patron of Atlas Workshops

Martin Scorsese, the legendary American cinema director will once again grace the International Film Festival of Marrakech (FIFM) as one of its esteemed guests and be the patron of the 6th edition of the Ateliers de l’Atlas, or Atlas Workshops, a program dedicated to nurturing talent from the region.

The Ateliers de l’Atlas, launched in 2018, aims to support the emergence of a new generation of Moroccan, Arab, and African filmmakers, providing a platform for exchange between international professionals and regional talent.

This year’s cohort of the Ateliers de l’Atlas will be known as the “Martin Scorsese Promotion.”

Since its inception, the program has supported 111 projects and films, including 48 Moroccan projects. Several of these projects backed by the Ateliers de l’Atlas have been selected and awarded at international festivals, cementing the projects reputation as a filmmaking incubator in the MENA region.

Four films supported by the Ateliers de l’Atlas were showcased at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, including “The Mother of All Lies” by Moroccan Asmae El Moudir (Un Certain Regard – Best Director Prize, Golden Eye for Best Documentary); “Les Meutes” by Moroccan Kamal Lazraq (Un Certain Regard – Jury Prize); “Inshallah a Boy” by Jordanian Amjad Al Rasheed (Critics’ Week – Gan Foundation Award for Distribution); and “Déserts” by Moroccan Faouzi Bensaïdi (Directors’ Fortnight).

” I am always happy to be returning to my beloved Marrakech Film Festival—when I haven’t been able to attend in person, I’ve always been there in spirit… For this very special anniversary edition of the festival, I have been entrusted with a precious task: to interact with young filmmakers and help guide them on their way. I look forward to seeing old friends, and to making new ones,” said Scorsese in a statement.

Ateliers de l’Atlas is scheduled to take place from November 27^th to 30^th, 2023, running concurrently with the 20^th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival, which is scheduled from November 24^th to December 2^nd, 2023.