The Marrakech Film Festival welcomed a dazzling array of stars as its 22nd edition began with much fanfare, prominently featuring Bong Joon Ho Marrakech Festival as the celebrated director took his place as jury president on opening night. The prestigious event opened Friday with an energetic ceremony, including a screening of Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man Wire, drawing a passionate audience and heralding an exciting week of cinematic discoveries in Morocco.
Leading Filmmakers and Talent Gather in Marrakech
The red carpet in Marrakech was graced by Bong Joon Ho, Oscar-winning director of Parasite, as well as international stars such as Jenna Ortega and Anya Taylor-Joy. The festival’s kick-off was marked by a lively atmosphere, echoing the passion of its 22-year-old namesake year, as Bong himself received a standing ovation and addressed the crowd, reflecting on his own formative years as a student with a deep love for film.
“I was greedily devouring movies as a student of cinema,”
said Bong Joon Ho, Jury President.
“Looking back, my 22-year-old self was brimming with energy and passion for cinema. I feel that Marrakech is also buzzing with a special energy as it enters its 22nd year,”
Bong Joon Ho, Jury President.
This sense of excitement continued with the festival’s impressive jury, selected by longtime president Melita Toscan du Plantier. Alongside Bong Joon Ho are actors Jenna Ortega and Anya Taylor-Joy, filmmaker Celine Song, Palme d’Or-winning director Julia Ducournau, Brazilian filmmaker Karim Aïnouz, Moroccan director Hakim Belabbes, and Iranian–American actor-director Payman Maadi. Together they are set to judge fourteen films from emerging filmmakers competing for top honors.
Spotlight on Gus Van Sant’s World Premiere and Emerging Voices
The opening film, Dead Man’s Wire, made its world premiere, starring Bill Skarsgård as Tony Kiritsis, a figure from a 1977 criminal case that gripped the U.S. While its cast could not attend, producer Cassian Elwes introduced the film to an eager audience, and critical acclaim followed. Variety’s Owen Gleiberman described Skarsgård’s performance as
“with a jittery but logical fast-talk fervor that makes this one of the actor’s two or three most potent performances,”
Owen Gleiberman, Film Critic. The film is set for a limited theatrical release in January before expanding nationally.
The festival’s jury, curated under the guidance of Melita Toscan du Plantier, will evaluate a competitive selection of works by promising first- and second-time directors. The jurors’ presence, including luminaries like Bong Joon Ho and Julia Ducournau, elevates the event’s international clout and underscores Marrakech’s commitment to supporting fresh cinematic voices.
Empowering the Next Generation of Filmmakers
Festival president Melita Toscan du Plantier emphasized the prestige for up-and-coming directors to have their films reviewed by eminent figures from the global film industry.
“It’s incredible for these directors to know that their first films are going to be watched by Bong Joon Ho, by all of these actors and directors,”
Melita Toscan du Plantier, Festival President.
Filmmaker Celine Song, also serving as a juror and experiencing her first trip to Africa at Marrakech, spoke about her enthusiasm for discovering untold stories.
“What’s amazing about this festival is that it feels like a discovery festival,”
Celine Song, Filmmaker and Juror.
“I got to be a juror at Sundance this year, and that’s also a discovery festival. So I love walking in sort of not having all the context for movies. I feel like that’s pretty rare, instead of all the build up,”
Celine Song, Filmmaker and Juror.
Jodie Foster, scheduled to receive a tribute at the event, arrived in advance, marking her first visit to the region and further highlighting the festival’s growing international pull.
The Festival’s Expanding Global Influence
Remi Bonhomme, Marrakech’s artistic director, described the festival’s role as a cultural bridge connecting Europe and Africa, attracting regional and international talent and attention.
“Marrakech is a gateway between Europe and Africa, which allows us to operate both internationally and regionally,”
Remi Bonhomme, Artistic Director.
Strategically scheduled at the end of the year, the festival falls in the midst of the Oscar race, a positioning Bonhomme believes is crucial for its growing relevance on the awards circuit.
“Being at the end of the year places us right in the middle of the Oscar race. We want to embrace that strategic position both geographically and in terms of the calendar,”
Remi Bonhomme, Artistic Director.
This year’s festival lineup features numerous contenders for the international feature Oscar, including Homebound, Palestine 36, Calle Malaga, The President’s Cake, A Poet, and No Other Choice, which are all competing for industry recognition.
Bill Kramer, CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, lauded the festival’s rapidly rising profile and its significance within the global film community.
“We want to have a bigger presence in the Middle East and North Africa and I’m here to meet filmmakers and to talk about the Academy and to see a lot of great movies,”
Bill Kramer, Academy CEO.
“The festival is more and more becoming a really key stop on the Oscars awards circuit,”
Bill Kramer, Academy CEO.
“We’ve been here for the last couple of years and it’s becoming a real home for us,”
Bill Kramer, Academy CEO.
A Celebratory Opening and Notable Tributes
The opening ceremony paid homage to Egyptian actor Hussein Fahmi, now 85, whose historic roles in films like Watch Out for Zuzu and Alexandria Again and Forever were honored with enthusiastic applause. After a montage of his prolific career, Fahmi took the stage to a rousing ovation and sincere congratulations from fellow jury members.
Over the course of the festival, Marrakech will feature tributes to stars such as Jodie Foster and Guillermo del Toro, along with special screenings of their recent works. Attendees can also look forward to in-depth discussions with figures like Kleber Mendonça Filho, Bill Kramer, Laurence Fishburne, Jafar Panahi, and Andrew Dominik, whose presence underlines the global stature of the festival.
Running through December 6, the Marrakech Film Festival continues to build a legacy as a dynamic crossroads of creativity, while the high-profile jury and inspirational tributes only strengthen its reputation as a welcoming stage for both legends and rising talent. As Bong Joon Ho Marrakech Festival draws more international artists to Morocco, its impact is poised to resonate across awards season and film culture worldwide.
