Hollywood stars Jeff Goldblum and John Turturro and “Knives Out” director Rian Johnson are among the names that will participate in the Conversations program at the 23rd edition of the Marrakech Film Festival, which will be held between 20-28 November.
Other film notables who will attend include actress Monica Bellucci, directors James Gray, Luca Guadagnino, Cristian Mungiu, Laïla Marrakchi, Xavier Dolan and Arthur Harari, and actor-director Gilles Lellouche.
The festival commented that Conversations “will offer a comprehensive overview of the sensibilities shaping contemporary cinema.” He noted that his experiences, whether in major Hollywood productions, deeply personal works, genre films or intimate narratives, reveal a wide range of approaches to depicting the world, examining society and moving audiences.
In a separate announcement Monday, the festival announced that Goldblum, Turturro and Moroccan actor Younès Mégri would be honored during the event.
“To be honored at the iconic Marrakesh International Film Festival is beyond thrilling and privileged,” said Goldblum, whose credits range from David Cronenberg’s “The Fly” to Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked.” “What a magical place! This amazing city with such deep roots in storytelling and craftsmanship! I feel truly blessed. It’s truly an exhilarating joy and an adventure I can’t wait to embark on.”
“There is something especially meaningful about celebrating someone’s work in a place with such a rich cultural history and such a deep appreciation for the art of storytelling. Cinema has a remarkable way of bringing us together, opening windows to other worlds and reminding us of our common humanity,” said Turturro, whose credits include Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing” and the Coen brothers’ “The Big Lebowski.”
Turturro’s latest film “The Only Pickpocket Living in New York” will be screened at the festival.
Mégri, who started his career as a singer and composer, said: “I didn’t leave music for the film, I just changed instruments. This commemoration in Marrakech tells me that the audience heard the same sincerity in both. This is what impressed me the most.”
His international works include “The Miracles of Jesus” by Jean-Claude Bragard, “The Government Inspector” by Peter Kosminsky, “Laila, la pure” by Gabriel Axel, “David” by Robert Markowitz and “Marie de Nazareth” by Jean Delannoy.