US actress Jessica Chastain is set to preside over the jury of the 20th edition of the Marrakech Film Festival, which will take place from November 24 to December 2.
The festival, which generates thousands of local jobs and represents a source of pride for Moroccan people, was maintained in the wake of the earthquake that hit the country last September. As such, the event will be held and none of the A-list talent have canceled their attendance.
A major cultural event in Morocco, Marrakech is one of the only international festivals of that scale where screenings and masterclasses are free and open to the public. Many high-profile filmmakers and actors are expected to attend the festival.
Earlier this year, Chastain attended the Venice Film Festival for Michel Franco’s “Memory,” which received an interim waiver from SAG-AFTRA.
Succeeding to Paolo Sorrentino, Chastain will lead the jury of the competition which comprises fourteen films by first- or second-time directors.
“I am honored to serve as the jury president for the esteemed Marrakech International Film Festival, marking its 20th edition this year. I am excited to return to the Festival having last attended in 2011. Being entrusted with this role is a privilege and I look forward to celebrating incredible global talent within the world of cinema,” said Chastain.
Chastain, who won the Oscar for best actress with her performance in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” is also an activist and a producer. Her New York-based company, Freckle Films, produced “Memory,” as well as “The 355” and “George & Tammy.”
She is currently developing the series adaptation of two novels, “His and Hers” by Alice Feeney and “The School for Good Mothers” by Jessamine Chan.
As previously announced, Martin Scorsese will also attend the festival to serve as the official patron of the Atlas Workshops, the festival’s industry initiative which is aimed at fostering and supporting the emergence of a new generation of Moroccan, Arab, and African filmmakers.
The revered director is a Marrakech festival regular. He presided over its jury in 2013 and presented an honorary tribute to Robert De Niro in 2018.
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