Celebrating Global Cinema at the Marrakech International Film Festival
The 23rd edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival, taking place from November 20 to 28, 2026, promises to be a grand celebration of global cinema, featuring an official selection of 76 films from 39 countries. These films will be showcased across various programming sections of the festival, including the 'Official Competition', 'Celebratory Screenings', 'Horizons', 'The Eleventh Continent', and 'Panorama of Moroccan Cinema'. In addition, there will be special screenings dedicated to this year's honorees.
Among the featured films, ten will have their world premieres, while twelve films have received support from the 'Atlas Workshops', a program aimed at enhancing the film industry and nurturing talent. Notably, eleven of these films will represent their countries in the prestigious Oscars.
The Official Competition highlights emerging talents in global cinema, showcasing 14 feature films that are either the first or second works of their directors. These films will compete for the festival's coveted Golden Star, awarded by a jury led by the acclaimed actress Marion Cotillard. The competing films reflect a diversity of visions from the new generation of filmmakers regarding contemporary global issues.
For instance, in 'Benimana', Mary Clementine Dusabiyambo presents a poignant narrative addressing reparations following the Rwandan genocide. Abdullah Khattab powerfully illustrates the daily lives of individuals trapped in the midst of war in 'Tales from the Siege', while 'House of Wind', directed by Auguste Bernard Kuemo Yango, tenderly portrays a Cameroonian mother striving to maintain her bond with her children who have moved to Europe. Furthermore, 'The Boy from Congo', directed by Rafiki Fanyala, follows the dreams of a young refugee in the Central African Republic aspiring to become a musician, while 'Wrath', by Rami Qadi, delves into the heart of the Lebanese economic crisis through a heist that intertwines tension and excitement.
Emerging female directors from Mexico, South Korea, and Haiti explore deep transformations in the lives of their female characters. In 'Sad Girls', Fernanda Tovar puts the friendship between two swimmers to the test after they face an assault. Yun Dan Bi's 'The World Before' tells a delicate summer tale of first love. Jessica Genious' 'Mary Magdalene' narrates the encounter between a sex worker and an evangelical preacher in a poetic homage to freedom.
Other films tackle the complexities of adolescence. In 'Eclipse', Manuel Vitcher examines the devastating effects of prejudice within a rural Austrian community. 'Our Share of Sand', by Shalini Adenani, follows a young girl uncovering the hidden injustices behind her family's prosperity in India. Meanwhile, 'A Day in the Life of Joe: A Fedra Chapter', by Jacqueline Lentzou, presents a self-discovery narrative that transcends realism.
Additionally, three films from the competition will have their world premieres, including 'The Kiss', an ambitious cinematic adventure by Moroccan director Yassine Marco Marouki, set between the desert in the 1960s and Italy in the 1930s. Iranian-Norwegian director Farzad Samsami unveils 'Waves of Silence', a moral drama addressing the tragedy of migrant drownings, filmed in Morocco with actor Amin Najhi. Lastly, directors Rani and Salem Musalha present their film 'In the Shadows of Cairo'.
The festival opens with the film 'From the Beginning', a comedy directed by Jesse Eisenberg, featuring Julianne Moore as a housewife who, after living in the shadows, discovers a passionate love for amateur theater.
The 'Celebratory Screenings' segment offers a selection of highly anticipated global films this year, including two world premieres: 'Laila and the Night', directed by Felipe Barbosa, inspired by the life of Moroccan photographer Leila Alaoui, starring Rachid Badouri and Marina Foïs, and 'The Weakest Creature' by Omar Hilal, which brings stars Ahmed Helmy and Hend Sabry together for the first time on the big screen in an adventure blending black comedy with suspense.
John Turturro will present 'The Last Thief Alive in New York', directed by Noah Segan, where he shines as an aging thief struggling to adapt to the changes of the modern world. Leila Marrakchi accompanies her film 'Earth’s Toot', which will represent Morocco at the Oscars, narrating a women’s story about resilience and depicting the lives of seasonal workers in Spain. James Gray’s 'Paper Tiger' combines thrilling elements with family melodrama, while Luca Guadagnino reveals 'Artificial', a witty yet confusing narrative tracing the rise of Sam Altman, a co-founder of OpenAI, brilliantly portrayed by Andrew Garfield.
The 'Horizons' section features 21 films that reflect the vibrancy and diversity of global cinema, including works that have received top awards at the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals. This section also introduces new films from renowned directors such as Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Cristian Mungiu, Pawel Pawlikowski, Hirokazu Koreeda, and Nanni Moretti.
Moreover, the official selection celebrates the vitality of Arab cinema with films like 'Safe Exit', a psychological thriller by Egyptian director Mohamed Hamad, and 'The Station', where Sarah Ishaq presents a feminist vision of a bleak imaginary world in Yemen. 'Citizen Osama' by Ahmed Hassouna is a poignant documentary about Gaza, while 'Flowers of Marrakech', filmed in Morocco, brings together Genevieve Elkan with Fanny Ardant and Nisrine Raddi in a tale of women's solidarity. The programming in the 'Horizons' section allows for a journey through various cinematic genres, from the thriller 'Klaxoo' to the environmental story 'Burning Giants', as well as the political narrative 'A Bit of Light', and the manga adaptation 'Look Back' by Hirokazu Koreeda. African cinema is also represented with films like 'Daw' by Alain Gomis, 'Clarissa' by Ari Isiri and Chuko Isiri, and 'The Scent of Apples' by John Trenkov. Several artists will accompany their films to Marrakech, including director Andrew Haigh presenting 'Long Winter', and Gustave Kervern and Suzanne Landon presenting 'This Is How It All Ended', along with actress Jasmine Trinca participating in 'It Will Happen Tonight', a romantic comedy by Nanni Moretti.
The 'Eleventh Continent' section features 13 films that explore the horizons of free and innovative cinema, including narrative works by Daniel Arabid, Sombot Chidgasornbong, and Radu Jude, alongside documentaries like 'Edward Said: Between Two Worlds' and 'Bido, The Crossing Camp', which will have its world premiere. This section also celebrates diverse cinematic writing styles through contemporary works such as 'The Stranger', 'Yesterday the Eye Did Not Sleep', and 'Variations on a Theme', alongside classic films shown in restored versions, including 'Nahla' by Farouk Beloufa and 'Tilai' by Idrissa Ouedraogo.
The 'Panorama of Moroccan Cinema' features six narrative and documentary films, including 'Bardi' by Tala Hadid, which opens the program, and three films that will have their world premieres, including 'Kangoul' by Mohammed Miftaker. Thus, a total of 11 Moroccan films will participate in various sections of the festival, alongside three films shot in Morocco.
The 'Emerging Audience and Family' section offers 11 screenings aimed at children, adolescents, and their families. Jamal Debbouze presents the animated film 'Girl in the Clouds' by Philippe Riche, while Mohsen Basri unveils his latest film 'Everything but Me' in a world premiere, featuring Omar Lotfi and Abdullah Dida.
As reported by youm7.com.
