The 22nd edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival concluded on a triumphant note, with Tunisian director Erige Sehiri's poignant drama 'Promised Sky' being awarded the festival's prestigious top prize. This victory capped a landmark year for the Moroccan festival, which reported record-breaking audience numbers and solidified its position as a crucial platform for emerging auteurs in global cinema, according to industry publication Variety.
A Triumph for African Storytelling
The winning film, 'Promised Sky', is a powerful narrative that traces the lives of four generations of Ivorian immigrant women. It delves into their struggle for dignity and a rightful place within their own continent, Africa, rather than in Europe. New York-based critic Tomris Laffly described it as a unique drama about marginalised African immigrant women. The filmmaker, Erige Sehiri, expressed a personal connection to the subject matter.
"As a Tunisian woman myself, I'm deeply frustrated to see that we can't welcome migrants with dignity," Sehiri stated. "We act as if we weren't all living on the same continent, as if we weren't all Africans." The film had previously opened the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival and screened in London, Zurich, and Lugano before its success in Marrakech.
Star-Studded Jury and Other Winners
The festival's jury was led by Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho and included notable figures such as actors Jenna Ortega and Anya Taylor-Joy, and directors Julia Ducournau, Celine Song, and Karim Ainouz. The panel awarded the Jury Prize to two films: 'My Father and Qaddafi' by Jihan K and 'Memory' by Vladlena Sandu.
Other notable awards included a special mention for actors Luke and Elliott Tittensor for the absurdist war comedy 'Straight Circle', while Oscar Hudson won the directing award. The Best Actor and Best Actress honours went to Sope Dirisu and Debora Lobe Naney respectively, with Naney receiving a unanimous vote from the jury.
Record-Breaking Audience and Unforgettable Moments
The 2024 festival was a resounding success in terms of public engagement, drawing over 45,000 attendees—a significant increase of 5,000 from the previous year. This surge was largely attributed to targeted outreach programs engaging young adults and film students in Rabat and Marrakech. Several screenings reached full capacity, with nearly 400 people turned away from a conversation with Iranian director Jafar Panahi.
A defining moment was the world premiere of the Umm Kulthum biopic 'El Set', which set a new festival record for audience reaction. The screening sparked a standing ovation that spontaneously erupted into dancing, dazzling organisers and audiences for over ten minutes. Festival coordinator Ali Hajji was particularly moved by the youthful demographic at this premiere.
"I expected an older crowd," Hajji admitted. "So it was striking to see so many young people, people in their twenties, born decades after she passed away [in 1975]. But the Moroccan public has a deep connection to Umm Kulthum, and that spans all generations."
Hajji also highlighted the festival's Atlas Workshops as a key differentiator, which had previously showcased both 'El Set' and 'Promised Land' as works-in-progress. "They believed in us," he said, noting that the support during the Workshops encouraged filmmakers to return for the main festival. This edition's success, amid a packed schedule of Arab festivals from October to December, firmly establishes the Marrakech Film Festival as an indispensable event on the global cinematic calendar.
