The International Film Festival of Marrakech (FIFM) honored Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg on Monday evening at the Palais des congrès, where he received the prestigious Étoile d’Or from actress Diane Kruger for his groundbreaking contributions to cinema over the past fifty years.
Cronenberg expressed deep gratitude for the recognition, thanking King Mohammed VI and Prince Moulay Rachid for their support. He also shared his pride in joining a distinguished group of past recipients of the Étoile d’Or, acknowledging the power of cinema to help understand our interconnected lives.
Diane Kruger highlighted Cronenberg’s significant impact on the film industry, noting how his work blends the grotesque with profound psychological depth, challenging viewers’ perceptions of reality and identity. She added that his films, while often categorized as psychological thrillers and horror, leave audiences grappling with complex emotional themes.
Kruger pointed out that Cronenberg’s influence extends beyond his own films, inspiring a new generation of filmmakers eager to explore the limits of storytelling and genre. She praised his ability to fuse the visceral with the emotional, transforming cinema into a unique experience.
Following the ceremony, the festival screened Cronenberg’s film Les Linceuls, showcasing the director’s signature exploration of the human body as a metaphor for anxiety and social transformation. Known for pioneering the “Body Horror” genre, Cronenberg has always sought to delve into the darkest corners of the human mind, as seen in films like Shivers (1975), The Fly (1986), and Dead Ringers (1988).
His works also frequently grapple with the intersection of technology and humanity, such as in Videodrome (1983), where television becomes an extension of the body and mind, and eXistenZ (1999), which blurs the lines between reality and virtuality.
Along with Cronenberg, the festival will honor other artists for their contribution to cinema, including the late Moroccan actress Naïma Lamcharki, Academy Award-winning actor and filmmaker Sean Penn.
Crown Prince Moulay Rachid, is presiding over the festival which runs from November 29 to December 7.