Guillermo Del Toro and Jodie Foster will be honored at this year’s Marrakech International Film Festival, along with Moroccan icon Raouya and Egyptian acting legend Hussein Fahmi, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The four will be celebrated for their contributions to the arts and “embodying the vitality of cinema and its ability to bring people together, move them, and inspire them.” Each released a statement regarding the honors.
Foster, who will also present her latest film, Vie Privée (A Private Life), which was directed by Rebecca Zlotowski, said,
“What an honor to discover your beautiful city of Marrakech and to celebrate film at the same time. I can’t wait to experience the historic sites, gardens, and markets, to walk alongside new friends, colleagues, and movie lovers.”
Del Toro, who previously attended the festival in 2018 and will be presenting his adaptation of Frankenstein, said:
“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.”
Raouya, whose real name is Fatima Harandi, has appeared in films such as Claude Lelouch’s And Now… Ladies And Gentlemen, Hugues Martin and Sandra Martin’s Djinns, and Xavier Beauvois’s Of Gods And Men. In her statement, she said,
“Every encounter with Marrakech and its audience remains a precious moment for me…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.”
Fahmi, one of Egypt’s most well-known actors, has appeared in a wide variety of films, including Hassan El Imam’s Watch Out for ZouZou, Said Marzouk’s The Guilty, and Youssef Chahine’s Alexandria: Again and Forever. When speaking about the honor from Marrakech, he reflected on his return to the city, saying:
“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.”
The 22nd edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival will run from Nov. 28 to Dec. 6 in Morocco.
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