Nine high-calibre artists and directors, from nine countries, will make up the jury for this edition. At their head, filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, whose internationally acclaimed career makes him a key figure in the seventh art, particularly admired for his singular and aesthetic approach. “I am honored to chair this festival which links my Arab heritage and my love for cinema,” he expressed, evoking a personal memory from more than twenty years ago, when he discovered Morocco. for the first time.
Alongside Guadagnino, major figures of world cinema: the Iranian director Ali Abbasi, whose inimitable style is praised for its striking realism, the Indian director Zoya Akhtar, the American actress and recent director Patricia Arquette, the famous Belgian actress Virginie Efira, rising Australian actor Jacob Elordi, as well as the talented Andrew Garfield, Moroccan actress Nadia Kounda and Argentinian director Santiago Miter. Together, their mission will be to decide between the films in competition, awarding the Gold Star to the most remarkable work among the 14 selected.
Known for landmark works like “Call Me By Your Name” and “Challengers,” Guadagnino is a director who continually explores profound themes such as youth and desire. With one foot in Italian cinema and another in international productions, he is one of the rare filmmakers to succeed in this marriage of eras and cultures through a powerful aesthetic and a unique sensitivity. His collaborations with actors like Tilda Swinton, Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya testify to his ability to reveal performances of rare intensity.
In a tribute to his Arab heritage, Guadagnino said the festival, and the city of Marrakech itself, had deep meaning for him. His mother, of Algerian origin and having grown up in Morocco, instilled in him a particular attachment to Moroccan culture and landscapes. “My Arab DNA is powerfully anchored in the magical powers of the Marrakech Festival,” he underlined, evoking with emotion his return as president of the jury.
The Marrakech Festival, which attracts thousands of enthusiasts each year, thus consolidates its status as a major event in the film industry by welcoming talent from around the world. After the Gold Star awarded last year to “The Mother of All Lies” by Asmae El Moudir, this edition promises to be marked by a plurality of expressions and a diversity of stories.
