Oscar-winning actress Jodie Foster was celebrated at the 22nd Marrakech International Film Festival, where cinematic luminaries convened in Morocco‘s cultural heart from late November into December. The highly anticipated event highlighted the Jodie Foster Marrakech Film Festival connection, with the star accepting a special honor as international filmmakers presented a diverse showcase of global cinema.
Opening Night: International Jury and New Voices Take Center Stage
The festival commenced with Bong Joon Ho, award-winning director of “Parasite,” heading a high-profile competition jury. This panel included Jenna Ortega, celebrated for her role in Netflix’s “Wednesday,” Anya Taylor-Joy, who has captivated audiences since “The Witch,” and major talents like Celine Song, Julia Ducournau, Karim Aïnouz, Payman Maadi, and Hakim Belabbes. Over the festival’s run through December 6, a vibrant program of 81 films from 31 different nations was screened at venues across Marrakech.
At the opening ceremony, Bong drew a lengthy ovation as he reminisced about his early days in cinema:
“I was greedily devouring movies as a student of cinema,”
Bong stated.
“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.”
This parallel between youthful passion and the festival’s continued growth set an optimistic tone for the proceedings.
Celebrating Emerging Cinema: Official Competition Highlights
The heart of the festival lay in its Official Competition, where 13 select debut or sophomore features competed for the prestigious Étoile d’Or prize. With nine premieres and fourteen films also representing their countries for consideration at the Academy Awards, Bong and his fellow jurors offered a truly global perspective. The jury, united at a Saturday morning press conference, brought attention to the role of youthful innovation, generational diversity, and the evolving challenges faced by filmmakers today.
Jenna Ortega spoke passionately on the topic of creativity and technology:
“In these difficult and confusing times, oftentimes it pushes the artist to speak out more, to do more, for there to be this new awakening and passion and protection, and I want to assume and hope that that’s the case. However, there are certain things that AI is simply unable to replicate. There’s beauty in difficulty, and there’s beauty in mistakes, and a computer can’t do that. A computer has no soul.”
— Jenna Ortega, Actor
The competition lineup featured vital narratives exploring teenage friendships under pressure, women’s resilience against systemic obstacles, and families grappling with political history. Notable entries included Meryem Benm’Barek’s “Behind the Palm Trees,” which delves into Morocco’s sociopolitical contrasts, James J. Robinson’s “First Light” about faith and self-doubt, and Akinola Davies Jr.’s “My Father’s Shadow,” set during a pivotal moment in Nigeria.
Film debuts from Siyou Tan and Imran Perretta examined political awakenings in Singapore and London, respectively. Stories centered on women’s resistance emerged in Erige Sehiri’s “Promised Sky,” Ondřej Provazník’s “Broken Voices,” and Morad Mostafa’s “Aisha Can’t Fly Away.” There were also reflective entries like Vladlena Sandu’s “Memory” from Chechnya and Jihan K’s “My Father and Qaddafi” focused on familial relationships in Libya.
Jodie Foster’s Career Celebrated with Festival Tribute
Saturday night marked a pinnacle moment as Jodie Foster was honored in a moving ceremony. Bong Joon Ho presented Foster with a tribute following a compilation reel of her defining roles spanning from “The Silence of the Lambs” to “Panic Room.” Foster gave an emotional reflection on her enduring legacy:
“Watching all these clips, I thought to myself: I’ve been doing this job for quite a while now. I started in the 1960s, and then I was lucky enough to experience the golden age of cinema in the 1970s. Then came the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and now we’re back in the 1970s again. It’s been a very long time indeed. And yet, it’s gone by in the blink of an eye.”
— Jodie Foster, Actor
The tribute deepened when Martin Scorsese, who directed Foster in “Taxi Driver,” appeared in a surprise video message:
“You’re such an important part of my work and my career. There’s a joy in your work that you’ve created since before you could walk, actually. I’ll never forget the memory of you walking into my office at 8 or 9 years old and having more pull than anyone else in the studio at the time.”
— Martin Scorsese, Director
Festival president Mélita Toscan du Plantier highlighted the festival’s unique opportunities for new artists:
“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,”
— Mélita Toscan du Plantier, Festival President. Her efforts bring high-profile filmmakers to the red carpet without pay, spotlighting new voices in major cinematic venues like the legendary Mamounia hotel.
Gala Events and International Screenings Broaden the Festival’s Reach
The Gala Screenings section served as a bridge to major international works. Gus Van Sant’s “Dead Man’s Wire” kicked off the festival with a satirical take on contemporary media. Highlights included Guillermo del Toro’s gothic vision, “Frankenstein,” featuring Jacob Elordi and Christoph Waltz, with Jodie Foster starring in Rebecca Zlotowski’s drama “A Private Life.”
Arab cinema and global stories received high visibility. Egyptian and Tunisian films such as Marwan Hamed’s “El Sett,” starring Mona Zaki as Oum Kalthoum, and Dhafer L’Abidine’s “Sophia” had their world premieres. Works like Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet” reimagined Shakespeare, and Neeraj Ghaywan’s “Homebound” introduced up-and-coming Bollywood actors. Maryam Touzani’s “Calle Málaga” featured Carmen Maura, while the festival’s finale came with Annemarie Jacir’s “Palestine 36.”
The Horizons program continued showcasing celebrated directors and festival favorites. Noteworthy films included Claire Denis’s “The Fence,” Richard Linklater’s “Nouvelle Vague,” Jafar Panahi’s “It Was Just an Accident,” Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice,” and Kelly Reichardt’s “The Mastermind.” Acclaimed Arab cinema was represented by Cherien Dabis’s
“All That Is Left Of You,”
a Sundance favorite, and Cannes-awarded works from Hasan Hadi (“The President’s Cake”) and Arab & Tarzan Nasser (
“Once Upon a Time in Gaza”
).
Exploration, Restoration, and the Power of Conversation
The festival’s 11th Continent section promoted borderless cinema, with films from Massoud Bakhshi, Oliver Laxe (“Sirât”), Lucrecia Martel (“Landmarks”), and Hlynur Pálmason (“The Love That Remains”). A highlight was the restoration premiere of Ahmed Bouanani’s 1980 classic “The Mirage,” anchoring the festival’s tribute to Arab cinema heritage.
The Moroccan Panorama contributed seven films, including premieres like Karim Debbagh’s “Five Eyes” and Abdelkarim El-Fassi’s “Porte Bagage.” In total, fifteen Moroccan works appeared in various sections, demonstrating the country’s creative vitality at home and abroad.
Industry leaders and creatives gathered for the Conversations series, bringing together figures such as Andrew Dominik, Laurence Fishburne, Bill Kramer of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki, Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho—whose “The Secret Agent” won the 2025 Cannes award for Best Director—Indian filmmaker Karan Johar, French actor Tahar Rahim, Egyptian screen legend Yousra, and Palme d’Or winner Jafar Panahi.
Industry Support Initiatives and the Atlas Workshops
The Atlas Workshops, part of the festival’s curatorial effort, provided resources and networking for upcoming filmmakers. Nine films received support, while the Atlas Distribution Meetings drew sixty professionals from the Arab world, Africa, and Europe to Marrakech. Across 28 projects, key themes included family, tradition, societal changes, identity, and resilience, reflecting the region’s social and cinematic evolution.
A Festival Steeped in Local and Global Recognition
The festival’s calendar was filled with tributes to cinematic icons. Alongside Jodie Foster and Guillermo del Toro, Moroccan actress Raouya and acclaimed Egyptian actor Hussein Fahmi were honored. The closing moments of the opening ceremony gave a standing ovation to Fahmi, illustrating Marrakech’s respect for the art form and the enduring international bonds celebrated at this event.
The 22nd Marrakech International Film Festival, shaped by mild positivity and rich with emotional resonance, demonstrated the city’s evolving centrality to global filmmaking. The jury is set to announce the Étoile d’Or winner on December 6, culminating a gathering defined by artistic achievement, discovery, and meaningful conversation in the world of cinema.
