Marrakech: The 22nd Marrakech International Film Festival commenced with a celebratory event honoring Egyptian movie star Hussein Fahmy for his significant contributions to Arab cinema. This year's festival edition also paid tribute to American actress and director Jodie Foster, Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, and Moroccan artist Rawia for their contributions to both international and national cinema. According to Kuwait News Agency, Hussein Fahmy expressed his joy at returning to the festival, having first participated in its inaugural edition over 20 years ago. He highlighted his special connection to Marrakech, a city where his cinematic journey began. The festival jury is led by South Korean director Bong Joon-ho and includes Brazilian director Karim Aïnouz, Moroccan director Hakim Belabbes, French director Julia Ducournau, Iranian actor and director Peyman Moaadi, American actress Jenna Ortega, Canadian director Celine Song, and British-Argentine actress Anya Taylor-Joy. This edition of the festiv al features 82 films from 31 countries, organized into an official competition and various screening sections. The event underscores the festival's role as a platform for promoting cultural diversity and fostering a meeting point for creative visions from across the globe.
