The 23rd Marrakech International Film Festival is set to take place from November 20 to 28, 2026, in Marrakech, Morocco. This year's festival will showcase a diverse range of 76 films from 39 countries, highlighting the best of contemporary cinema. The festival's program includes a competition section, world premieres, tributes, and a focus on Moroccan cinema.
The festival's competition section will feature 14 first and second feature films competing for the prestigious Golden Star award. The selection is chaired by French actress Marion Cotillard and includes films that tackle pressing themes such as memory, conflict, and social change. Notable films include "Ben'imana" by Rwandan director Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo, which explores the challenges of post-genocide reconstruction.
The festival will also premiere three world premieres, including "Alkebulan" by Moroccan director Yassine Marco Marroccu, which takes viewers on a journey through the Sahara in the 1960s and Italy in the 1930s. Other notable premieres include "Waves of Silence" by Farzad Samsami, shot in Morocco, and "Les Chiffonniers du Caire" by Rani and Salem Massalha.
The festival's program also includes a range of international productions, such as "Mona," a comedy by Jesse Eisenberg starring Julianne Moore, and "Leila et la nuit" by Fellipe Barbosa, inspired by the life of Moroccan photographer Leila Alaoui. The festival will also feature a tribute to the cinema of Omar Hilal, with a screening of his film "His Weakest Creatures."
The Horizons section of the festival will showcase 21 films, including new works by acclaimed directors such as Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Cristian Mungiu, and Hirokazu Kore-eda. The section will also feature a number of Arab films, including "Safe Exit," "The Station," and "Citizen Osama," a documentary about Gaza.
Moroccan cinema will be a major focus of the festival, with a dedicated section showcasing six fiction and documentary films. The Panorama du cinéma marocain section will feature films such as "Bardi" by Tala Hadid and "Cagoules" by Mohamed Mouftakir. A total of 11 Moroccan films will be screened across the festival's various sections.
The festival will also feature a range of events and activities, including meetings with filmmakers, workshops, and screenings for young audiences. The festival's closing ceremony will take place on November 28, 2026, at the Palais des congrès in Marrakech.
Key points
- The festival will feature 76 films from 39 countries, including 14 films competing for the Golden Star award.
- The festival will premiere three world premieres, including "Alkebulan" by Moroccan director Yassine Marco Marroccu.
- The festival will showcase a range of international productions, including films by Jesse Eisenberg, Fellipe Barbosa, and Omar Hilal.
