As master of ceremonies for the 13th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival, Martin Scorsese presided over the feature film jury. The Étoile d’Or was awarded to the American actor Sharon Stone. During an emotional evening, Stone happily received this award and in turn paid tribute to Morocco, which she noted is a Muslim country that extols the virtues of peace and compassion.

There were many events to entertain festival goers, from film screenings and tributes to the stars of cinema (in particular the Moroccan actor Mohammed Khouyi and the French actor Juliette Binoche), to masterclasses led by directors, actors, and producers.

In a reference to the centenary of Indian cinema, which had been celebrated the year before, the festival opened with a screening of the Indian film Ram-Leela, based on a novel by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Feature film jury members included well-known industry professionals, such as French actor Marion Cotillard and Moroccan director Narjiss Nejjar. The short film jury for Cinécoles was presided over by Moroccan director Nour-Eddine Lakhmari.

Masterclasses drew large audiences to hear of the work of the French sociologist René Dumont and the American director of Russian origin James Gray, one of the most gifted of his generation, as well as of the Danish director Nicholas Winding Refn. Philosopher Régis Debray spoke about his personal feelings towards cinema, and suggested a new look at the creation of fiction, by returning to the history of image and the power of the imaginary on the real.