DUBAI: Hollywood stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Jenna Ortega and Jodie Foster were among those attending the opening ceremony of the Marrakech International Film Festival on Friday.
South Korean director Bong Joon Ho, whose honors include an Oscar for 2019 film “Parasite” and who is serving as the festival’s jury president, received a standing ovation as he took to the stage.
Speaking about his own experiences, he said: “I was greedily devouring movies as a student of cinema. 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.”
The director, who will deliver a masterclass next week, is joined on the jury by “Wednesday” star Ortega, “Furiosa” actress Taylor-Joy, “Past Lives” and “Materialists” filmmaker Celine Song, “Titane” Palme d’Or winner Julia Ducournau, Brazilian director Karim Ainouz, Moroccan filmmaker Hakim Belabbes and US Iranian actor-director Payman Maadi. They will judge 14 features in the running for the festival’s Golden Star award.
The opening ceremony featured a screening of Gus Van Sant’s “Dead Man Wire.” The movie, which had its world premiere at Venice Film Festival, stars Bill Skarsgard as real-life criminal Tony Kiritsis, who in 1977 kidnapped his mortgage broker and proceeded to lead police on a wild goose chase.
Jury members arrive at the opening ceremony of the 22nd Marrakech International Film Festival. (AFP)
The ceremony closed with a tribute to renowned Egyptian actor Hussein Fahmy, which included a reel of the 85-year-old’s most famous roles, including “Watch Out for Zuzu” (1972) and “Alexandria Again and Forever” (1990). Fahmy then shook hands with each jury member as the crowd cheered.
The Marrakech Film Festival runs until Dec. 6. Film industry insiders will then travel to Jeddah, where the Red Sea International Film Festival runs from Dec. 4-13.
