2024-05-03 21:54:30
The Etoile d’Or thus returns for the first time in the history of the festival to a Moroccan film.
This 96-minute feature film tells the real story of the filmmaker, who goes to her parents in Casablanca to help them move. As she begins to sort through all the things from her childhood, she finds a photo that will become the starting point of an investigation in which she questions all the little lies her family tells, thus exploring little by little the memories of his neighborhood and his country.
This closing ceremony was also marked by the presentation of the Jury Prize awarded ex-aequo to the films “Les Meutes” by Kamal Lazraq (Morocco) and “Bye Bye Tiberias” by Lina Soualem (Palestine).
As for the Best Director Award, it went to the Senegalese director Ramata-Toulaye Sy, for her film “Banel & Adama”, while the Best Actress Award was won by Asja Zara Lagumdzija for her role in “Excursion” by Una Gunjak (Bosnia).
As for the Male Actor Prize, it was won by Turkish actor Doga Karakas for his role in “Dormitory” by Nehir Tuna.
On this occasion, the president of the jury, the American actress and producer, Jessica Chastain, underlined that “the power of telling a story reminded us all of the reasons why we chose to dedicate ourselves to art”, adding that “this generation of filmmakers confronts narrative in a bold and sincere way”.
These directors are looking at their legacy and wondering what they’re going to do with it, she continued, noting that “if this is the future of cinema, the world is in excellent hands.”
Chaired by Jessica Chastain, the jury for this 20th edition is made up of the Iranian actress Zar Amir, the French actress Camille Cottin, the Australian actor and director Joel Edgerton, the British director Joanna Hogg, the American director Dee Rees, the director Swedish-Egyptian Tarek Saleh, Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård and French-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani.
The members of the jury viewed 14 films as part of the official competition, of which 10 are first feature films and 8 are by female directors.
This edition was marked by a wide range of productions with 75 films from 36 countries. These films were divided into several sections, namely the Official Competition, the Gala Screenings, the Special Screenings, the 11th continent, the Panorama of Moroccan cinema, the Young Audience sessions and the films screened as part of the tributes.
This festival was also a moment of debate and exchange with a wide range of renowned guests, as part of the “In Conversation with…” program, one of the most anticipated events of the festival for intense and exciting exchanges.
The Marrakech International Film Festival also organized the 6th edition of the “Atlas Workshops”, a support program for young filmmakers from Africa and the Middle East with projects in development and films in post-production.
Furthermore, children from the province of Al Haouz, shaken by the earthquake of September 8, were invited, on the occasion of the 20th edition of the Festival, to attend the screenings of the “Young Audience” section, an initiative aimed at consecrating the role of the Festival in promoting the 7th art among young people.
2024-05-03 21:54:30