The 21st Marrakech International Film Festival has once again opened its doors in the Red City. This prestigious event brings together 70 films from 32 different countries, offering a cinematic diversity ranging from Moroccan cinema to gala screenings and films suitable for a young audience.
Director Luca Guadagnino expresses his expectations for cinema in these terms: “I want to see cinema that provokes me. I want to see cinema that does not seek to be clean. I want to see cinema that takes big risks. I want to see cinema that can be imperfect, but alive, I would say. I do not want to see cinema in three acts, and I do not want to defend cinema that leaves me in the same place as before seeing it. I just think about integrity, truth, creative vision, captivating performances.”
Many celebrities gather for this occasion. What are their expectations for the event? Actor Andrew Garfield says: “I’m looking for soul, heart, originality and, you know, beautiful art and heart.”
Among the highlights, the Conversations program will welcome eminent figures of world cinema, such as David Cronenberg, Sean Penn and Tim Burton. In addition, Italian actress Monica Bellucci will present the documentary “Maria Callas Monica Bellucci: An Encounter” directed by Greek director Yannis Dimolitsas, in the “11th Continent” section.
The festival kicked off with “The Order”, a crime thriller directed by Justin Kurzel, which previously won the Jury Prize at the FIFM in 2011. New spaces have been added this year, including the Meydene, a 400-seat auditorium located in a modern building, just a ten-minute walk from the Palais des Congrès, the main venue of the festival.
To ensure you don’t miss out on the glamour and glitz, the event will run until December 7. The 21st Marrakech International Film Festival promises a mix of diverse cinema and enriching exchanges between the different figures of the seventh art, thus offering spectators a cinematic experience rich in emotions and discoveries.