The jury of the 21st edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival delivered its verdict, Saturday December 7, at the Palais des Congrès in the ocher city. He awarded the Grand Prize to the film “Happy Holidays” by Palestinian director Scandar Copti. Here is the complete list!
The Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM) brought down the curtain on its 21st edition, Saturday December 7, at the Palais des Congrès in the ocher city. During this evening, the jury chaired by the Italian director, Luca Guadagnino, lifted the veil on the winners of this edition, where 14 films were screened as part of the official competition. Thus, the “Golden Star” Grand Prize of the 2nd edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival, placed under the high patronage of HM King Mohammed VI, was awarded to the film “Happy Holidays” by Palestinian director Scandar Copti. This 123-minute feature film delicately explores the dialectic between emancipation and conservatism within Palestinian society in 1948, reflecting the deep conviction that the development of societies requires the emancipation of women.
This closing ceremony was also marked by the presentation of the Jury Prize awarded ex aequo to the films “The cottage” (La Quinta) by director Silvina Schincer (Argentina) and “The Village Next to Paradise” by Mo Harawe (Somalia). ), which benefited from the support of the “Ateliers de l’Atlas”. As for the Best Director Award, it went to director Damian Kocur for his film “Under the Volcano” (Poland). A double prize for female interpretation was awarded to Manar Shehab and Wafaa Aoun for their performances in “Happy Holidays” by Scandar Copti. As for the Male Actor Prize, it was awarded to Ukrainian actor Roman Lutskyi for his role in “Under The Volcano”. On this occasion, the Italian director and president of the jury, Luca Guadagnino, expressed his sincere thanks to His Majesty King Mohammed VI. He also expressed his warm thanks to HRH Prince Moulay Rachid, President of the Marrakech International Film Festival Foundation. Mr. Guadagnino further emphasized that “Marrakech is undeniably the capital of cinema in December, with so many different and important cinematographic personalities.” In this regard, he cited great masters of the seventh art, such as Sissako, Cronenberg, Burton, Penn, Ozon, Cuaron, Nichols, Haynes, “all united by an implacable passion for telling stories and talking about what makes us humans”.
Tributes, meetings, conversations….
Chaired by Luca Guadagnino, the jury for this 21st edition was composed of the Iranian director Ali Abbasi, the Indian director Zoya Akhtar, the American actress Patricia Arquette, the Belgian actress Virginie Efira, the Australian actor Jacob Elordi, British-American actor Andrew Garfield, Moroccan actress Nadia Kounda and Argentinian director Santiago Miter. The members of the jury watched 14 films as part of the official competition which explored several cinematographic genres, from melodrama to documentary, including science fiction and romantic comedy. It should be remembered that this 21st edition paid a vibrant tribute to the late Naïma Lamcharki, icon of national cinema, as well as to the American actor and director Sean Penn, and to the Canadian director, producer and filmmaker David Cronenberg. This edition also allowed film buffs and the public to meet stars and cinema professionals from all over the world. 18 of them participated in the “Conversation” program, a record since the creation of the Festival.
71 films from 32 countries, divided into 6 sections
Like every year, the programming of this 21st edition of the Festival made it possible to discover and explore extremely varied cinematographic expressions. In total, 71 films from 32 countries, divided into 6 sections, were screened in the different halls of the Festival in Marrakech. Among this selection, 12 films benefited from the support of the Ateliers de l’Atlas, the industry talent development program initiated by the Festival in 2018. Like all the previous ones, the 21st edition of the Festival saw a large participation Moroccan professionals. According to the organizers, “there were 300 of them, with 170 accredited media, represented by 390 journalists, cameramen, JRIs and national and international photographers, coming from all continents”. Faithful to its social and medical commitment, the Marrakech International Film Festival Foundation also organized a new campaign to combat blindness, from December 2 to 6 in Tahannaout, carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Protection. social and the Hassan II Ophthalmology Foundation.
