The 22nd Marrakech International Film Festival recently wrapped with a ceremony that felt more like a celebration of what cinema can still do to help heal the world of divisions than the actual competition that it truly is.
While awards were handed out—including the Étoile d’or Award for Erige Sehiri’s Promised Sky—the evening’s real message centred on how recognition at Marrakech can reshape careers, elevate regional storytellers, and reinforce the festival’s role as a crossroads for international filmmaking.
The Étoile d’or, traditionally awarded to works that push cinematic language forward, once again stood as a marker of artistic bravery.
The jury emphasised that honouring Promised Sky was a way to champion films that “invite us to reconsider our relationship with others and with ourselves”—a reminder that Marrakech uses its top prize not just to reward excellence but to signal the kinds of stories the global film community urgently needs.
Festival as gateway
Throughout the week, filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals repeatedly noted that a win—or even a screening—at Marrakech can open doors far beyond the region.
For emerging directors from North Africa, the Arab world, and the wider Global South, the festival’s recognition often becomes a gateway to international distribution, European co-production networks, and invitations to other major festivals.
The atmosphere this year echoed that purpose: strong storytelling, bold aesthetics, and boundary-pushing form took precedence over big-budget spectacle.
Tributes to cinematic icons highlighted the emotional centre of the night, with legendary American actress Jodie Foster honoured with an Étoile d’or for lifetime achievement in film.
“Cinema offers us a few hours where we can dream, live, and belong to a deeply humanistic community. It’s the place where we hold hands, side by side, in the dark.” Foster said while also paying gratitude toward Morocco—“a country that charms all the senses.“
‘Creative memories’
Egyptian star Hussein Fahmi added a layer of nostalgia, recalling his early filmmaking days in the Ochre City and describing Marrakech as a place where creative memories never fade.
Moroccan legend Raouya, honoured for her immense contribution to national cinema, delivered one of the evening’s most heartfelt moments as she dedicated her tribute to audiences “here and around the world.”
The ceremony also celebrated the festival’s broader cultural role. With more than 47,000 spectators attending screenings—including thousands of young viewers—the event reinforced cinema’s enduring draw in a digital age.
Under the presidency of Prince Moulay Rachid, the festival maintained its long-standing social commitments, including a major medical campaign in Tahannaout offering eye-care services to disaster-affected communities—an example of how Marrakech blends art and humanitarian action.
Organisers said this year’s awards ceremony was less about winners and more about what Marrakech itself stands for: a gathering that reveals “new talents and honours established filmmakers”.
