With Luca Guadagnino as this year’s jury head, explore this year’s stellar line-up at the Moroccan festival
The 21st Marrakech International Film Festival is just around the corner, running from November 29 to December 7, and it’s shaping up to be an exciting edition. The festival, which A Rabbit’s Foot will be covering at the end of the month, has announced a lineup of 70 films from 32 countries, spread across its various sections. Impressively, 12 of these films were supported by the festival’s own industry program, the Atlas Workshops, which has been nurturing emerging talent since 2018. Here’s what’s on, and what to expect!
This year’s jury is headed by Italian director Luca Guadagnino. Joining him on the panel are Iranian director Ali Abbasi, Indian filmmaker Zoya Akhtar, Patricia Arquette, Virginie Efira, Aussie star Jacob Elordi, Andrew Garfield, Moroccan actress Nadia Kounda, and Argentine director Santiago Mitre.
In the Official Competition, 14 debut or second-time filmmakers will be competing for the prestigious Étoile d’Or. Highlights include Saïd Hamich Benlarbi’s Across the Sea (France/Morocco/Belgium), Silvina Schnicer’s The Cottage (Argentina/Brazil/Spain/Chile), and Gabrielle Brady’s The Wolves Always Come at Night (Australia/Mongolia/Germany). European productions are particularly strong this year, making up most of the entries.
The 2024 Marrakech Film Festival jury
The festival kicks off with Justin Kurzel’s crime thriller The Order (Canada), starring Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult, as part of the Gala Screenings. This section also includes standout titles like Mohammad Rasoulof’s moving The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany/France/Iran), also Germany’s Oscar submission, and Walter Salles’ I’m Still Here (Brazil/France), Brazil’s entry for the Academy Awards.
The Special Screenings lineup is a treasure trove for cinephiles, featuring 15 acclaimed films from around the world. These include Payal Kapadia’s Cannes Grand Prix winner All We Imagine as Light (France/India/Netherlands/Luxembourg), Andrea Arnold’s Bird (UK), and Edward Berger’s Conclave (USA/UK). Among the world premieres is Jean-Claude Barny’s Fanon (France/Luxembourg/Canada).
For those seeking something more experimental, the 11th Continent programme offers 13 films that challenge the way we see the world, including Miguel Gomes’ Grand Tour (Portugal/Italy/France) and Inadelso Cossa’s The Nights Still Smell of Gunpowder (Mozambique/France/Germany/Portugal/Netherlands/Norway). Meanwhile, the Moroccan Panorama section celebrates homegrown talent with films like Simone Bitton’s Les Mille et un Jours du Hajj Edmond (Morocco/France) and Jawad Rhalib’s Since I Was Born (Morocco/Belgium).
The festival also has something for everyone with tributes to David Cronenberg, Sean Penn, and late Moroccan star Naïma Elmcherqui, plus a family-friendly section packed with seven delightful films. It’s going to be a celebration of cinema, diversity, and creativity—all in the beautiful backdrop of Marrakech. Keep an eye on our coverage beginning the 30th of November.
Main image: still from Maria Callas Monica Bellucci: An Encounter
