Marrakech Opens With Eisenberg's 'The Debut' Amid Major Premieres
The 23rd festival will screen new works by Guadagnino and Hamaguchi, with Julianne Moore and Andrew Garfield expected to attend.
By Harper Collins ·
Jesse Eisenberg’s “The Debut” will open the 23rd Marrakech International Film Festival on Nov. 20. The out-of-competition gala presentation features Julianne Moore in the lead role. Her character is a shy housewife cast in a community theater musical who evolves into a zealous Method actor. Eisenberg and Moore are both expected to attend the event.
The festival runs through Nov. 28 and includes the regional premiere of Luca Guadagnino’s “Artificial.” This film traces the rise of OpenAI founder Sam Altman, played by Andrew Garfield. Guadagnino is a frequent attendee at the festival. James Gray will also return with his crime thriller “Paper Tiger,” which stars Adam Driver and Miles Teller.
Two world premieres are scheduled for the gala section. Fellipe Barbosa’s “Leila et la nuit” is inspired by the life of Moroccan photographer Leila Alaoui. It stars Roschdy Zem and Marina Foïs. Omar Hilal’s “His Weakest Creatures” marks the first on-screen pairing of Egyptian actors Ahmed Helmy and Hend Sabry.
John Turturro will present Noah Segan’s “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York.” The film follows an aging pickpocket navigating the contemporary world. The section also includes Laïla Marrakchi’s “Strawberries,” which has been selected as Morocco’s entry for the Academy Awards. The film depicts Moroccan seasonal laborers in Spain who confront their abusive employers.
The Official Competition features 14 first and second feature films. A jury headed by Marion Cotillard will select the winner of the Étoile d’Or. Three titles in this section are world premieres: “Alkebulan” by Yassine Marco Marroccu, “Waves of Silence” by Farzad Samsami, and “Cairo Shadows” by Rani Massalha and Salem Massalha.
Other competition entries include “Ben’imana” by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo, which premiered at Cannes. Abdallah Alkhatib’s “Chronicles From the Siege” depicts Palestinian life on the front lines. Rafiki Fariala’s “Congo Boy” follows a young Congolese refugee’s musical dreams. Rami Kodeih’s “Furies” is a bank-heist thriller set against the Lebanese economic crisis.
The Horizons section will showcase 21 films, including the latest works by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Cristian Mungiu, Pawel Pawlikowski, Hirokazu Kore-eda, and Nanni Moretti. Arab cinema is represented by “Safe Exit” by Mohammed Hammad, “The Station” by Sara Ishaq, and the documentary “Citizen Osama” by Ahmed Hassouna.
