- Title: MOROCCO: The twelth Marrakesh film festival bows to Bollywood.
- Date: 3rd December 2012
- Summary: MARRAKESH, MOROCCO (NOVEMBER 30, 2012) (REUTERS) OUTSIDE THE FESTIVAL VENUE FESTIVAL POSTER
- Embargoed: 18th December 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Morocco
- City:
- Country: Morocco
- Topics: Arts
- Reuters ID: LVABYXQRD3IMB6PY4Z051RWLY82P
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- Story Text: The 12th International Marrakech Film festival (Festival International du Film de Marrakech) opened its doors on Friday (November 30).
Fifteen feature films from Europe, Asia, Africa and the U.S. are taking parts in the official competition. Morocco is represented by two films: 'Horses of God' by Nabil Ayouch and 'Zero' by Nour Eddine Lakhmari.
The festival is traditionally not focussing on any region of the world. Its organisers say it is open to any good new film regardless of its country of origin.
"This Festival is extremely interesting and special because it represents the world cinema. We don't have a regional specificity: North, South, East or West. We have a global specificity. When we look back at the previous festivals, we showed many first or second films. That allowed us to discover new cinematography, producers and film makers at the start of their work and they come from very different countries", said Faical Laraichi, deputy chairman of the festival.
The festival's jury is chaired by John Boorman - a director, screen writer and producer from the United Kingdom, and includes a British actress Gemma Arterton, Canadian actress Marie-Josee Croze, Italian actor Pier Francisco Favino, Moroccan director, screen writer and actor Jilali Ferhati among others.
The festival is paying a special tribute to the Indian cinema that will celebrate its centenary next year and is attended by almost a hundred Indian actors including top Bollywood celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Shopra, Malaika Arora Khan and Boney Kapoor to name but a few.
"I have just one word that is love and that says it all. I will go back with my heart enriched with this love", said Hrithik Roshan impressed by the cheering from enthusiastic fans.
Arab actors and film-makers were also cheered by Moroccan fans.
The Egyptian actor Nour Sharif who was flanked by actress Yousra and film maker Inass Dghedi has become a regular of the Marrakesh film festival, an event he ranked among the best ot its kind in the Arab world.
"For me the Marrakesh (alt: Marrakech) film festival is the most important Arab film festival for its organization, the choice of its guests, the films and the jury. Any festival gets its importance from the films that are screened and also from its jury. This is why I am always happy to be in Marrakesh. Last year I couldn't make it because my daughter was unwell. I will never forget the magical tribute this festival paid to the Egyptian cinema to celebrate its centenary," said Nour Sharif.
The Marrakesh film festival was started in 2001 to promote Moroccan cinema and put it on the world's map.
"This year two Moroccan films are taking part in the official competition. I am hopeful and very optimistic that some films will be crowned. This is a good sign that there is an interest and also a strong will to take care of the Moroccan cinema," said a Moroccan actor Mohamed Bastawi adding the festival was instrumental in developing Moroccan national cinema.
The festival will go on for one week and the winners will be announced during the awards ceremony next Saturday (November 8). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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