archives
GOLDEN JUBILEE OF MOROCCAN CINEMA
LAUNCH OF CINEMA WITH AUDIO-DESCRIPTION FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED
The 8th edition of the Marrakech Festival was marked by a tribute to British cinema, for which a substantial delegation of directors, actors, and artists from the United Kingdom was present. The year 2008 was also a symbolic moment as it commemorated the golden jubilee of Moroccan cinema and thus provided an occasion to celebrate cinema in a significant way.
With this in mind, the festival celebrated the fifty years of Moroccan cinema during its 8th edition. It also paid tribute to the late Mohammed Ousfour (who died in 2005), a self-taught director seen as the doyen of Moroccan filmmakers as a result of Le Fils Maudit, the film he made in 1958.
The feature film jury was presided over by American director, screenwriter and producer Barry Levinson, and as is the festival’s established practice, several tributes were held over the course of the festival. This year, Marrakech celebrated American actor Sigourney Weaver and gave a posthumous homage to Egyptian director Youssef Chahine.
For the first time since its launch, the festival integrated films with audio-description into its programming, an achievement brought to life thanks to a partnership with the German channel Arte. Screenings of international films with audio description were organised for blind and visually impaired cinema lovers whom the festival invited from all over the country.
With this in mind, the festival celebrated the fifty years of Moroccan cinema during its 8th edition. It also paid tribute to the late Mohammed Ousfour (who died in 2005), a self-taught director seen as the doyen of Moroccan filmmakers as a result of Le Fils Maudit, the film he made in 1958.
The feature film jury was presided over by American director, screenwriter and producer Barry Levinson, and as is the festival’s established practice, several tributes were held over the course of the festival. This year, Marrakech celebrated American actor Sigourney Weaver and gave a posthumous homage to Egyptian director Youssef Chahine.
For the first time since its launch, the festival integrated films with audio-description into its programming, an achievement brought to life thanks to a partnership with the German channel Arte. Screenings of international films with audio description were organised for blind and visually impaired cinema lovers whom the festival invited from all over the country.
AWARDS
Etoile d'Or
Grand Prix
WILD FIELDS (DIKOE POLE)
by Mikhail Kalatozishvili
(Russia)
Jury Prize
THE SHAFT (DIXIA DE TIANKONG)
by Zhang Chi
(China)
Best performance by an Actress
Melissa Leo inFROZEN RIVER
by Courtney Hunt
(USA)
Best performance by an Actor
Eero Haro in TEARS OF APRIL
by Aku Louhimies
(Finland)
JURY
Barry Levinson, director, USA – President
Joaquim de Almeida, actor, Portugal
Mariama Barry, novelist, Senegal
Hugh Hudson, director, United Kingdom
Ghita El Khayat, psychiatrist, anthropologist and writer, Morocco
Sebastian Koch, actor, Germany
Caterina Murino, actress, Italy
Natacha Régnier, actress, Belgium
Agustí Villaronga, director, Spain
Joaquim de Almeida, actor, Portugal
Mariama Barry, novelist, Senegal
Hugh Hudson, director, United Kingdom
Ghita El Khayat, psychiatrist, anthropologist and writer, Morocco
Sebastian Koch, actor, Germany
Caterina Murino, actress, Italy
Natacha Régnier, actress, Belgium
Agustí Villaronga, director, Spain