It’s official: the Marrakech International Film Festival revealed, this Thursday, October 7, the nine eminent members of the jury for its 21st edition. These renowned figures come from nine countries across five continents, bringing exceptional cultural and artistic diversity to the heart of this event.
The organizers specified, in a press release, that the jury will have the mission of crowning one of the fourteen first or second feature films in competition by awarding it the Golden Star, a prestigious prize celebrating the discovery of new cinematographic talents came from all over the world.
To chair this jury, the choice fell on the renowned Italian director, Luca Guadagnino. Initially, Thomas Vinterberg was to take on this role, but he withdrew for family reasons, paving the way for Guadagnino, a leading figure in contemporary cinema.
An eclectic and passionate filmmaker, Luca Guadagnino has established himself as one of the most brilliant Italian directors of the last fifteen years. His international career has led him to collaborate with stars like Tilda Swinton, Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Daniel Craig, while exploring various genres combining fiction, documentaries, and even a series. His works, including the iconic Call Me By Your Name and Challengers, demonstrate his unique outlook, particularly on youth and desire.
« I will never forget my first visit to Marrakech, more than twenty years ago. My friend Valentina Cervi, member of the short film jury, invited me to discover this festival. Morocco was unknown to me, but my mother, of Algerian origin, had grown up here, in Casablanca, from the age of five. As soon as I arrived in this fascinating city, I felt an indelible connection between cinema and Marrakech, which remains for me a magical place, imbued with my Arab DNA. It’s a huge honor to chair the jury for this edition and I can’t wait to discover all the films and meet their talented creators “, declared Guadagnino, in comments reported by the press release.
To judge the films in competition, Guadagnino will be surrounded by a prestigious jury, made up of leading figures in international cinema: Iranian director Ali Abbasi, Indian director Zoya Akhtar, American actress Patricia Arquette, Belgian actress Virginie Efira, Australian actor Jacob Elordi, British-American actor Andrew Garfield, Moroccan actress Nadia Kounda and Argentinian director Santiago Miter. Together, they will embody a critical and eclectic outlook, ensuring an evaluation enriched by their varied cultural and artistic perspectives.
The supreme award of this 21st edition, the Golden Star, will be awarded to one of the fourteen films in competition, following in the footsteps of The Mother of All Lies by Asmae El Mudir, winner of the previous year under the presidency of Jessica Chastain. The winners will be revealed during the closing ceremony, scheduled for Saturday December 7, 2024, thus closing a festival which promises to be rich in discoveries and celebrations of the 7th art.
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