Assahafa.com
The 22nd edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival, held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, kicked off on Friday evening at the Congress Palace in the Red City, attended by Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, as well as prominent figures from the realms of cinema, art, culture and the media.
This new edition, which runs until December 6, kicked off in style with the customary procession of festival attendees and emblematic figures from Moroccan and international film luminaries, amidst the cheers of the enthusiastic audience and the lenses of photographers representing various Moroccan and foreign media outlets, thus embodying this perfect union between glamour and celebration of the 7th Art.
In a vibrant and friendly atmosphere, the audience warmly welcomed the President of the Jury of the official competition of this 22nd edition, Korean director Bong Joon Ho, as well as the Jury members: Brazilian-Algerian director, screenwriter, and visual artist Karim Aïnouz, Moroccan director Hakim Belabbes, French director and screenwriter Julia Ducournau, Iranian actor and filmmaker Payman Maadi, young American actress Jenna Ortega, Canadian screenwriter and director Celine Song, and Anglo-Argentine actress Anya Taylor-Joy.
Subsequently, the Jury members officially declared the 22nd edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival open.
On this occasion, the Jury President, Oscar and Palme d’Or-winning director Bong Joon Ho, highlighted the rich journey of the Marrakech International Film Festival, a major cultural event brimming with exceptional energy, which has showcased a wide range of cinematic experiences since its inception.
The world-renowned director also expressed his joy in being part of the festival’s rich history, emphasizing its significant contribution to the global cinematic landscape over the years, while offering the opportunity to discover authentic Moroccan creations.
A highlight of the opening ceremony was a heartfelt tribute to the iconic figure of Egyptian and Arab cinema, actor, director, and producer Hussein Fahmi, who received the Golden Star from his compatriot, star Youssra.
The opening ceremony also featured the screening of Dead Man’s Wire by director Gus Van Sant, which recounts the true story of Tony Kiristis, a man ruined by a loan.
In this edition, thirteen feature films are competing for the “Golden Star” in the official competition.
These include Behind the Palm Trees by Meryem Benm’Barek (France – Morocco – Belgium – United Kingdom), First Light by James J. Robinson (Australia – Philippines), Before the Bright Day by Shih‑Han Tsao (Taiwan), My Father’s Shadow by Akinola Davies Jr. (Nigeria – United Kingdom), Laundry by Zamo Mkhwanazi (South Africa – Switzerland), and Amoeba by Siyou Tan (Singapore – Netherlands – France – Spain – Korea).
Also competing in this competition are Ish by Imran Perretta (United Kingdom), Broken Voices by Ondřej Provazník (Czech Republic – Slovakia), Forastera by Lucía Aleñar Iglesias (Spain – Sweden – Italy), Promised Sky by Erige Sehiri (Tunisia – France – Qatar), Straight Circle by Oscar Hudson (United Kingdom), Memory by Vladlena Sandu (France – Netherlands), My Father and Qaddafi by Jihan K (Libya – United States), and Aisha Can’t Fly Away by Morad Mostafa (Egypt – France – Germany – Tunisia – Saudi Arabia – Qatar – Sudan).
Regarding the flagship program Conversations, the 2025 edition will bring together some of the most inspiring personalities in world cinema, including South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho, Mexican director, screenwriter, and producer Guillermo Del Toro, Australian director and screenwriter Andrew Dominik, and American actor, director, and producer Laurence Fishburne.
Also participating in these cultural exchanges are Bill Kramer, Director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; Lebanese director and actress Nadine Labaki; Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho; Iranian director Jafar Panahi; and French actor Tahar Rahim.
Additionally, the Atlas Workshops 2025 will showcase 12 projects in development (10 fiction and 2 documentaries, including 5 first feature films) from 9 countries: Angola, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Mozambique, Palestine, and Tanzania, as well as 10 films in production or post-production (9 fiction and 1 documentary, including 5 first feature films) from 7 countries: Egypt, Ghana, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Yemen.
Moreover, five Moroccan projects in the Regards sur l’Atlas section (5 fiction projects in development, all first features) and one Moroccan film in final editing in the Atlas Film Showcase section, seeking a festival premiere, will be presented.
In addition to Hussein Fahmi, the Marrakech International Film Festival pays a vibrant tribute to major figures in cinema, artists from diverse backgrounds, each embodying in their own way the universal power of cinema: Jodie Foster, Guillermo del Toro, and Raouya.
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