Julianne Moore to Star in Opening Film for Marrakech Festival
The 23rd edition of the festival runs from Nov. 20 to 28, featuring gala screenings of new works by Luca Guadagnino, James Gray, and Ryusuke Hamaguchi.
By Layla Petrov ·
Filmgoers in Marrakech will begin their year with a dramatic turn from the domestic to the theatrical. The 23rd Marrakech International Film Festival has confirmed that Jesse Eisenberg's new film, 'The Debut,' will serve as the opening presentation. The narrative follows Julianne Moore as a reserved housewife who discovers a passion for acting after being cast in a local community musical. Moore is expected to attend the out-of-competition gala screening alongside director Eisenberg.
The festival schedule runs from Nov. 20 to 28. Among the other major gala screenings is the regional premiere of Luca Guadagnino's 'Artificial.' This title stars Andrew Garfield in the role of OpenAI founder Sam Altman. Guadagnino has a history of attending the festival, as does James Gray, who will present his crime thriller 'Paper Tiger.' Adam Driver and Miles Teller lead the cast of that picture.
Two world premieres are also slated for the gala section. Brazilian director Fellipe Barbosa will debut 'Leila et la nuit,' a film inspired by the life of Moroccan photographer Leila Alaoui. The cast includes Roschdy Zem and Marina Foïs. Egyptian director Omar Hilal will present 'His Weakest Creatures,' marking the first on-screen collaboration between Egyptian actors Ahmed Helmy and Hend Sabry.
John Turturro will attend the festival to present Noah Segan's 'The Only Living Pickpocket in New York.' Turturro plays an aging thief adjusting to modern life in the film. The gala section also includes 'Strawberries' by Laïla Marrakchi. This film, selected as Morocco's entry for the Academy Awards, depicts seasonal laborers in Spain who confront their abusive bosses.
The official competition features 14 first and second feature films competing for the Étoile d'Or. Marion Cotillard heads the jury that will select the winner. Three of these entries are world premieres, including 'Alkebulan' by Yassine Marco Marroccu and 'Waves of Silence' by Farzad Samsami.
The Horizons section will screen 21 films representing diverse global cinema. This lineup includes recent works from acclaimed directors such as Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Cristian Mungiu, and Hirokazu Kore-eda. The section also features Arab cinema, including 'Safe Exit' by Mohammed Hammad and the Gaza-set documentary 'Citizen Osama' directed by Ahmed Hassouna.
