The 11th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival was noted for the strong presence of Moroccan films at its opening and closing ceremonies. This confirmed the resurgence of Moroccan cinema, considered quite rightly as an emerging cinema. The festival also paid tribute to Mexican cinema, which saw a comeback following a slump in the early part of the century. Per established tradition, the tribute featured the presence of numerous actors and directors from Mexico, who came to receive the Étoile d’Or in honour of the “Mexican Generation.”

The feature film jury was presided over by Emir Kusturica, the Serbian director, actor and musician. Jurors included Iranian actor Leila Hatami, Filipino director Brillante Ma Mendoza, American actor Jessica Chastin, and Moroccan director Abdelkader Lagtaa.

The Cinécoles programme, which presents an award for short films by students of Moroccan cinema schools and institutes, was once again exceptional. The competition included ten films, and the jury was presided over by American actor Sigourney Weaver.

The festival paid tribute to Moroccan artist Mohammed Bastaoui, Italian director Marco Bellocchio, and American screenwriter and stage director Terry Gilliam, as well as his fellow American Forest Whitaker. Franco-Moroccan director, screenwriter, and actor Roschdy Zem, as well as famed Indian actor and producer Shah Rukh Khan, also received tributes on stage.

Masterclasses were given by French director and screenwriter Jean-Jacques Annaud, Italian director Marco Bellocchio, Turkish screenwriter and director Nuri Bilge Ceylan, British director and producer Roland Joffe, and American screenwriter and director Terry Gilliam.