Marrakech Festival: Three Tributes and a Program of Meetings with Film Stars

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The Marrakech International Film Festival is preparing for its 23rd edition, focusing on the diversity of artistic journeys and dialogue with the audience. Scheduled from November 20 to 28, 2026, the event will honor three film figures, Jeff Goldblum, John Turturro, and Younes Megri, while offering a new series of meetings with major personalities from the seventh art through its "Conversations" program.

This dual programming reflects a desire to celebrate the trajectories that have marked cinema, while also giving a voice to those who contribute to its evolution. Between tributes and direct exchanges, the Festival aims to showcase the different facets of cinematic creation to the public.

Three Celebrated Artistic Journeys

For this edition, the Festival will pay tribute to Jeff Goldblum and John Turturro, two American actors with particularly rich careers, as well as to Moroccan artist Younes Megri, whose journey connects music and cinema.

Recognizable by his unique style of acting, humor, and presence on screen, Jeff Goldblum boasts nearly six decades of career. From "The Fly" to "Jurassic Park," including "Independence Day" and "The Grand Budapest Hotel," the actor has traversed various cinematic genres. Also a jazz musician, he continues his activities with the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, whose fifth album, "Night Blooms," was released in June 2026.

John Turturro will also be celebrated for a career marked by collaborations with several leading directors, including Spike Lee and the Coen brothers. His performance in "Barton Fink" earned him the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1991. He has also made a mark in "The Big Lebowski," "Quiz Show," and "Mia Madre," while developing a career as a director and screenwriter.

The third tribute will be dedicated to Younes Megri, a prominent figure in the Moroccan artistic scene. Born in Oujda in 1951, he first gained recognition as a singer and composer, notably with the song "Lili Twil," which achieved significant success in 1972. His career later led him to cinema, where he worked both as an actor and composer of film scores. His contributions include "Ali, Rabiaa and Others...," "The Angels of Satan," and "The Orchestra of the Blind."

Through these three tributes, the Festival highlights artists whose universes and experiences illustrate the diversity of cinematic expressions.

"Conversations": Giving Voice to Artists

Beyond the tribute ceremonies, the "Conversations" program will be one of the highlights of this 23rd edition. These meetings offer a format for direct exchange between artists and the audience, focusing on their journeys, inspirations, creative choices, and experiences that have shaped their relationship with cinema.

Jeff Goldblum and John Turturro will also participate in this program, extending the tributes dedicated to them. Other international personalities are announced, including Monica Bellucci, James Gray, Cristian Mungiu, Luca Guadagnino, Xavier Dolan, Rian Johnson, Gilles Lellouche, and Arthur Harari.

Moroccan director Laïla Marrakchi is also among the guests. Known for "Marock," she will discuss her approach to creation and the themes that run through her work, including family relationships, social conventions, and individual freedom. Her new film, "La más dulce," will be presented at the Festival.

The exchanges will also address very different cinematic universes. Monica Bellucci will notably talk about a journey built across multiple countries and languages, while James Gray will share his views on family relationships and transformations in American society. Cristian Mungiu will reflect on a body of work attentive to social realities and contemporary moral dilemmas.

Luca Guadagnino will discuss his new film "Artificial," focusing on the behind-the-scenes of artificial intelligence. Xavier Dolan, Rian Johnson, Gilles Lellouche, and Arthur Harari will each, in their own way, provide insights into narrative forms, characters, and the evolutions of contemporary cinema.

Marrakech: A Space for Dialogue Around Cinema

By bringing together artists from different generations and varied cinematic traditions, the Marrakech International Film Festival aims to offer a panorama of the sensibilities that shape today's seventh art.

The tributes emphasize the lasting contribution of three artists to cinematic culture, while the "Conversations" prioritize the transmission of experiences and sharing with audiences. This complementarity gives the programming a dimension that goes beyond mere film screenings: it places human journeys, artistic approaches, and dialogue at the heart of the event.

From November 20 to 28, 2026, Marrakech will host a program that combines the celebration of great careers and the exploration of new perspectives in international cinema.