The 21st Marrakech International Film Festival began on Friday at the Palais des Congrès, celebrating global cinema and honoring influential figures in the film industry.
The opening ceremony introduced the festival’s jury, featuring Iranian director Ali Abbasi, Indian filmmaker Zoya Akhtar, American actress Patricia Arquette, Belgian actress Virginie Efira, Australian actor Jacob Elordi, British-American actor Andrew Garfield, Moroccan actress Nadia Kounda, and Argentine director Santiago Mitre.
The highlight of this year’s festival is the return of Egyptian actress Yousra, who has been on a four-year hiatus.
“I had several shoots during the previous editions, and COVID disrupted the schedules. That’s the only reason for my absence here, in Morocco, my second home,” she told reporters.
The event’s program includes various sections, such as official competitions, gala screenings, special screenings, 11th Continent, Moroccan Cinema Panorama, young audiences and family screenings, and tributes. Among the 70 films featured, nine are world premieres, nine are national Oscar entries, and 12 were supported by the Atlas Workshops program.
The celebration will honor three notable artists for their significant contributions to cinema: the late Moroccan actress Naïma Lamcharki, Academy Award-winning actor and filmmaker Sean Penn, and Canadian director David Cronenberg.
Presided over by Prince Moulay Rachid, the film showcase runs from November 29 to December 7.