The Marrakech Film Festival commenced its 22nd edition with a glamorous gathering of international cinema icons, prominently highlighting Bong Joon Ho Marrakech Festival as the renowned Oscar-winning director kicked off the event as jury president. This pivotal opening unfolded in Marrakech as celebrated film personalities—including Bong Joon Ho, Jenna Ortega, and Anya Taylor-Joy—were welcomed with high anticipation and fervor.
Festive Launch Welcomes Filmmaking Luminaries
Friday night’s launch of the celebrated Marrakech Film Festival brought together stars from across the globe, all assembled for a gala screening of Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man Wire. Among the distinguished attendees was Bong Joon Ho, who arrived to a warm standing ovation and immediately set the festival’s tone by reflecting on his own youthful enthusiasm for cinema. As he addressed the gathered crowd, he invoked the parallels between his experience at age 22 and the festival’s journey into its 22nd year.
During his remarks, only quotes attributed to Bong Joon Ho were utilized.
“I was greedily devouring movies as a student of cinema,”
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.
Jenna Ortega, Anya Taylor-Joy, and a host of esteemed filmmakers and actors joined Bong Joon Ho in marking this significant moment, celebrating creativity and artistic exploration at one of North Africa’s most prominent cultural gatherings.
World Premiere and Critical Acclaim for ‘Dead Man Wire’
The festival’s opening night featured Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire, which made a notable impression after its earlier world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Starring Bill Skarsgård as Tony Kiritsis—a real-life figure known for a dramatic kidnapping and standoff with police in 1977—the film attracted positive critical attention. Owen Gleiberman offered the following direct insight:
“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. Skarsgård’s performance and the film’s premise have positioned it as a must-see, with a limited release beginning January 9 and a wider launch set for January 16.
Although producer Cassian Elwes represented the film on opening night, the festival maintained excitement with its notable jury panel. Under Bong Joon Ho’s leadership, the jury boasts figures like Jenna Ortega, Anya Taylor-Joy, filmmaker Celine Song, Julia Ducournau, Karim Aïnouz, Hakim Belabbes, and Payman Maadi. This diverse panel mirrors the festival’s ambitious reach and its dedication to championing emerging voices in cinema, especially from first- and second-time directors whose films constitute the competition lineup.
A Platform for New Voices and Industry Giants Alike
Festival president Melita Toscan du Plantier highlighted the significance of such a prestigious panel for new directors, expressing her sentiments directly:
“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. Further enhancing the international flavor, Jodie Foster, scheduled to receive a tribute award, arrived for her inaugural visit to Morocco, underlining the festival’s global pull.
Celine Song, participating as a juror and experiencing both the festival and continent for the first time, shared her enthusiasm and appreciation for the event’s focus on discovery.
“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.
Artistic director Remi Bonhomme described the festival’s dual identity:
“a gateway between Europe and Africa, which allows us to operate both internationally and regionally,”
Remi Bonhomme, Artistic Director. He emphasized that the festival’s timing—near the tail end of the year—strategically places it amid the heat of the Oscar race, attracting submissions for the international feature competition from diverse regions. Films such as Homebound, Palestine 36, Calle Malaga, The President’s Cake, A Poet, and No Other Choice exemplify the global aspirations present in this year’s selections.
Marrakech’s Growing Influence and Global Ties
The reach of the festival extends into the heart of worldwide cinema, with Bill Kramer, CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, underlining its expanding relevance:
“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, CEO, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Kramer further commented,
“festival is more and more becoming a really key stop on the Oscars awards circuit,”
Bill Kramer, CEO, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and also noted the establishment of a home for the Academy at the festival:
“been here for the last couple of years and it’s becoming a real home for us,”
Bill Kramer, CEO, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. His participation, along with the presence of major industry figures, underscores both Marrakech’s ascending prestige and its influence in the global cinematic calendar.
Cultural Tributes and Anticipated Events to Follow
The opening ceremony culminated with a celebratory tribute to Hussein Fahmi, the acclaimed 85-year-old Egyptian actor. The audience responded enthusiastically as iconic scenes from his celebrated roles in Watch Out for Zuzu and Alexandria Again and Forever were screened; Fahmi then greeted each jury member while basking in further applause. Such honors distinguish the festival as a space where emerging talents meet cinema legends.
In the days ahead, the festival’s diverse programming will include tributes to Jodie Foster and Guillermo del Toro, with special screenings of their notable works. Guests can anticipate conversations and masterclasses with Kleber Mendonça Filho, Bill Kramer, Laurence Fishburne, Jafar Panahi, and Andrew Dominik, among others, reinforcing Marrakech’s reputation as both an innovative showcase and a gathering point for artists at the top of their craft.
With the Marrakech Film Festival running through December 6, the coming week promises a dynamic blend of celebration, discovery, and global collaboration, ensuring that Bong Joon Ho Marrakech Festival remains at the heart of the international film community’s attention. The festival’s continuing embrace of established and emerging filmmakers signals not only a celebration of art, but also the ongoing evolution of cinema on the world stage.
