Marrakech International Film Festival

For its fifteenth year, the Marrakech International Film Festival is honoring a young but none the less powerful cinema, and one that is in no way less talented or diverse. This is rich cinema, and it’s Canadian cinema.

This tribute, like those that have preceded it, partakes of the very identity of the Festival, which symbolizes an exceptional moment where all cultures meet and talk, making the film a universal language.

Renewing this dialogue every year between talents and intellects in the ancient city of Marrakech, and to have such creativity and inventiveness gather and around the seventh art, is to notice with pride and enthusiasm that the Marrakech International Film Festival has become that crossroads where great national and international creators invent tomorrow’s cinema.

Moreover, the Kingdom of Morocco has become this privileged destination for major movie productions and where the greatest unite.

For all those reasons and more, the Marrakech International Film Festival will continue to be the place where dreams, art and civic engagement coexist in harmony.

Be it programming, tributes, masterclasses, audio descriptions for the visually impaired, projections on the main square of Jemaa El Fna, an intangible cultural heritage of humanity, the Marrakech International Film Festival is in itself a combination, a fusion, between cinema and humanity.   While the world and its terrible news worries more than it reassures, we shall recall that in the face of adversity and misfortune that affects so many men and women and at a time when thousands of humans seek refuge, fleeing brutality and violence, cinema is, today and more than ever, called to testify. About that, there are so many views to consider about today’s world with this year’s young talent.  Through the Cinécole competition, we welcome young Moroccan directors of tomorrow to express themselves and share this moment when culture and consciousness meet.  Our purpose is that by involving our young film students in this celebration, and ensuring they have the chance to meet the immensely talented people that will be here in Marrakech, we will meet the challenge of a talented Moroccan cinema.

I wish you all a festival that will fill your expectations and help us build a better future.

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE MOULAY RACHID
The President of the Marrakech International Film Festival Foundation