Virginie Efira, Jacob Elordi, Luca Guadagnino… open the 21st Marrakesh Festival

Bringing together cinema from around the world. The Marrakesh International Film Festival made good on its promise to open its 21st festival, so festival participants paraded down the red carpet at the Morocco Convention Center yesterday, November 29. Italian jury president Luca Gadagnino alongside his American jurors Andrew Garfield, Patricia Arquette, Australia’s Jacob Ellord, France’s Virginie Efira, as well as Iranian and Argentinian directors Ali Abbasi, Santiago Mitre, Indian filmmaker Zoya Akhtar and Moroccan actress Nadia Kunda.

This prestigious jury was followed by festival guests Leroy-Beaulier from the Philippines, Monica Bellucci and Tim Burton, as well as Justin Trier, Marina Fois, Monya Chokri, Vincent Perez and festival director Melita Toscan du Plantier, all present at the opening ceremony, during which Lucas Guadagnino delivered his speech in flawless French and then stayed at a screening of Justin Kurzel’s film, order, worn by Jude Law.

The next day, the festivities resumed with a vengeance, with a jury press conference and a masterclass from Justin Treet, who won the Palme d’Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival for his film Anatomy of the Fall. returned as a documentary about his beginnings as a filmmaker, as well as the evolution of his cinema, his way of making films and his connection with actresses. A rich and inspiring exchange, followed by the festival visitors, but also Marina Fois, Monya Chokri, and even the Filipino Leroy-Beaulieu. What’s next? In the afternoon, Tim Burton will take the stage at the new Meydene Theater on the first day of the festival sets the bar very high.