Marrakech – Tonight, Marrakech stepped once again into the language of cinema as the 22nd edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival officially opened.
The city shifted into a different rhythm, shaped by red carpets, quiet anticipation, and the low hum of excited conversations in multiple languages.
Filmmakers, actors, producers, critics, and cinema lovers gathered from across continents, drawn not only by a program of international scope, but by the distinct spirit that has made this festival one of the region’s most-watched cultural moments.
The opening ceremony unfolded in a carefully curated atmosphere. There was a sense of restraint and elegance rather than spectacle for spectacle’s sake. Cinema, rather than glamor, remained the true protagonist of the night.
A jury that set the tone for this edition
At the helm of the jury sat Bong Joon Ho, the South Korean filmmaker whose work spans genre and social critique, and whose international standing brings significant weight to the festival.
He opened the night by speaking of Marrakech as “a city that has long stood at the forefront of global cinema,” noting that its festival has become “a place where filmmakers from every corner of the world meet on equal ground.”
He added that he and the jury are “genuinely excited to discover the films selected this year,” saying he was “thrilled to be here, to share this moment, and to open what promises to be a remarkable edition.”
He was joined by a diverse panel of creators and performers, each bringing a distinct background and sensibility: Karim Aïnouz (Brazil/Algeria), Hakim Belabbes (Morocco), Julia Ducournau (France), Payman Maadi (Iran), Jenna Ortega (US), Celine Song (Canada), and Anya Taylor-Joy (UK / Argentina).
This composition testifies to the festival’s intention to bring together multiple generations, continents, and cinematic languages.
Moreover, each member of the jury was invited to declare the festival open in their own language. It was a simple, light moment that brought a few smiles, giving the audience a glimpse of the group’s diversity and setting an easy, welcoming tone for the night.
A program that opens onto the world
This 22nd edition presents a rich and varied program, bringing together films from more than thirty countries. The selection stretched across the Official Competition, Gala Screenings, Special Presentations, Perspectives, the Eleventh Continent, the Moroccan Panorama, and programs dedicated to younger audiences.
Each section appears designed to form a dialogue between cinemas of different geographies and traditions. From intimate auteur projects to ambitious international productions, the lineup suggested a deliberate effort to offer viewers multiple lenses through which to read contemporary realities.
The festival did not pursue uniformity. Instead, it offered contrast: between generations, between styles, between political contexts, between stories rooted in memory and those exploring the immediate present.
Moroccan cinema in clear presence
Moroccan films occupied a meaningful position within this edition, particularly through the Moroccan Panorama and several world premieres. These works traced stories rooted in local realities, social tensions, personal histories, and shifting identities.
Rather than offering a single image of the country, the films presented a mosaic of perspectives: rural and urban, historical and contemporary, intimate and collective. It was a reminder that Moroccan cinema continues to evolve, shaped by filmmakers who refuse simplification and insist on complexity.
An edition that invites reflection
The opening of the 22nd Marrakech International Film Festival did not present answers. It proposed questions instead.
It suggested that cinema, in its most essential form, remains a space for exploration rather than certainty. Over the coming days, audiences will move from one world to another, guided by filmmakers whose stories are anchored in reality, imagination, or the delicate space in between.
As the first night drew to a close, what remained was the feeling that something had truly begun, a shared journey into stories that will linger long after the final screening.
