The 20th annual Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM) has assembled an impressive jury lineup featuring acclaimed actors, directors, and industry professionals from around the world.
The Film Festival Foundation revealed on Friday its star-studded jury for the festival, which is set to run from November 24th to December 2nd, 2023.
FIFM is celebrating its 20th glittering year by bringing together a distinguished jury from eight different countries.
In tribute to the rich tapestry of global cinema, the jury for the 20th edition comprises members from eight different countries spanning five continents.
The chairperson is Academy Award-winning American actor and producer Jessica Chastain, known for her roles in Interstellar and The Eyes of Tammy Faye.
Other members include the Iranian actor Zar Amir, French actress Camille Cottin, Australian actor and director Joel Edgerton, British director Joanna Hogg, American director Dee Rees, Swedish-Egyptian director Tarek Saleh, Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgard, and French-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani.
The jury will bestow the “Etoile d’Or” award, the Grand Prix of the festival, on one of the fourteen first and second feature films participating in the international competition.
During the 19th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival, the coveted “L’étoile d’Or” was awarded to “Chevalier Noir” from Iran, directed by Emad Aleebrahim Dehkordi.
Established in 2001, the Marrakech International Film Festival has become a vital international platform for showcasing a diverse range of films from around the world.
In addition to the star-studded jury, this year’s edition also has renowned American director Martin Scorsese as the official patron of the festival’s “Atlas Workshops.”
Scorsese, whose most recent film, Killers of the Flower Moon, recently premiered, has regularly attended the festival in various capacities throughout the years and will be offering workshops for young filmmakers this year.
With such an array of experienced and culturally diverse jurors, filmmakers vying for honours this year will surely have their work cut out for them.