The Marrakech International Film Festival will pay tribute to Jodie Foster, Guillermo del Toro, Egyptian actor Hussein Fahmy and Moroccan star Raouya, at its 22nd edition later this month.
Foster’s career will be feted with a gala screening of her latest film, Rebecca Zlotowski’s French-language murder mystery A Private Life as well as screenings of her third feature directorial credit The Beaver with Mel Gibson, David Fincher’s Panic Room and Jonathan Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs.
“What an honor to discover your beautiful city of Marrakech and to celebrate film at the same time,” said Foster. “I can’t wait to experience the historic sites, gardens, and markets, to walk alongside new friends, colleagues, and movie lovers. I feel blessed to have been chosen for this tribute and I look forward to introducing my new French film.”
Mexican director Del Toro, who previously touched down Marrakech in 2018 and 2022, attend a gala screening of his new film Frankenstein, with the festival also playing 1992 feature directorial debut Chrono, Pan’s Labyrinth and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.
“The festival and the city have always been so welcoming to me. I’m especially honored to receive a tribute, and to show the audience my most personal work, Frankenstein. I look forward to seeing you all there,” he said.
Born Fatima Harandi, Raouya is one of Morocco’s most iconic actresses.
Making her big screen debut in Mohamed El Abbazi’s Les Trésors de L’Atlas, she has since worked with the likes of y including Saâd Chraïbi (Thirst), Jillali Ferhati (Pillow Secrets), Nour-Eddine Lakhmari (Casanegra), Narjiss Nejjar (Cry No More) and Laïla Marrakchi (Rock the Casbah).
Raouya also appeared in Claude Lelouch’s And Now… Ladies and Gentlemen, Hugues Martin and Sandra Martin’s Djinns, and Xavier Beauvois’s Of Gods and Men.She won best actress at the Carthage Film Festival in 2016 for her performance in Saïd Khallaf’s A Mile in My Shoes, which went on to be Morocco’s 2017 Oscar entry.
“Every encounter with Marrakech and its audience remains a precious moment for me,” she said. “I have so many memories of exciting films and exchanges. My heartfelt thanks to the organizers. I can’t wait to see my friends and Marrakech audiences again.”
Veteran actor Fahmy is one of Egypt’s best known actors with notable credits including including Hassan El Imam’s Watch Out for ZouZou, Said Marzouk’s The Guilty and Youssef Chahine’s Alexandria: Again and Forever.
Alongside his acting career, Fahmy taught directing at the Cairo Academy of Arts for 12 years and directed the Cairo International Film Festival from 1998 to 2001, and then took up the role again in 2022.
“The city of Marrakech has a special place in my heart as one of my earliest films, (My Blood, My Tears, My Smile) was shot there. Coming back to this joyful city to be honored is a very precious moment,” he said.
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