Elegance and sobriety. This 20th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival, which runs from November 24 to December 02, may have kept a low profile, out of respect for the situation in Gaza, but cinema still has a prominent place. Gone is the red carpet and its glamorous parade. No festive stage at the Jamaa El Fna square either, but a selection of world cinema with 75 films from 36 countries divided into several sections and open to the general public free of charge. This includes the official competition, gala screenings, special screenings, the 11th continent, the panorama of Moroccan cinema, screenings for young audiences, and films shown as part of the tributes... A special mention this year goes to the Moroccan cinema in the spotlight, with no fewer than fifteen films presented in its various sections, including two in the running for the Golden Star. The movies running for awards include a thriller in the Casablanca underworld, a western movie on the edge of the desert, and an apocalyptic roadtrip in the Atlas Mountains... Moroccan cinema is writing a new page, with young directors asserting their desire to move away from the social drama and realism that have characterized Moroccan cinema since its beginnings in the 1960s, towards a genre cinema that aims to be much more universal. Does the festival have anything to do with this?
Looking back over its nineteen editions, the festival has welcomed some of the biggest names in world cinema: Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Isabelle Huppert, David Lynch, Tilda Swinton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Harvey Keitel, Jim Jarmush, and many others, which is enough to inspire future filmmakers. Another opportunity for young directors to rub shoulders with some of cinema’s legends are the master classes initiated in 2005, that have been transformed into a more friendly “In Conversation with...” format. For each edition, leading figures from the world of cinema are present in Marrakech to take part in the program. Actors, directors, scriptwriters, and producers are invited to share their visions and practices with the festival audience, with a mixture of tasty anecdotes and off-the-cuff discussions. This year’s audience includes such luminaries as the legendary Willem Dafoe, the magnetic Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, and the iconic Tilda Swinton, among others.
Supporting emerging talent
“Les Ateliers de l’Atlas” is another of the festival’s young talent factories. Initiated in 2018, this talent development program supports the emergence of a new generation of Moroccan, Arab and African filmmakers, and creates a space for exchanges between international professionals and regional talent. In five editions, Ateliers de l’Atlas has supported 111 projects and films, including 48 Moroccan projects and films. In recent years, several films supported by Ateliers de l’Atlas have been selected and awarded prizes at major international festivals. At the last Cannes Film Festival, four films supported by the workshops were present in various sections. Five Moroccan films are part of the program for this 20th edition, two of which are in official competition. These are “La mère de tous les mensonges” (“The Mother of All Lies” ) by Asmae El Moudir ( in the “Un certain Regard” - A Certain Look section - Director’s Prize, Golden Eye (“Œil d’or” ) for Best Documentary) and “Les meutes” ( The Packs ) by Kamal Lazraq ( A Certain Look - Jury Prize).. .
A.Bo
