Marrakesh International Film Festival: Honoring Mikkelsen and “Hire Hitman” Screening

The launch of the “International Film Festival” in Marrakesh: honoring Mikkelsen and screening of “Hired Killer”

The activities of the 20th session of the International Film Festival kicked off on Friday in Marrakesh, honoring the Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, and screening the American film “Hitman” by Richard Linklater.

The opening took place in the absence of the festive appearances that characterized the previous sessions of this artistic event, which came to light in 2001, in an initiative that constituted, at that time, an event in the history of Moroccan cinema, and aimed to advance good cinematic works, contribute to raising the artistic level of international cinema, and develop the cinematic industry in Morocco, while promoting its image throughout the world.

A “calm and more sober” session held by the festival this year (the organizer)

The festival administration had canceled, prior to the start of the session, the “Jemaa El Fna Square Shows” section, which over the previous sessions had constituted a moment of real joy, through the programming of films that enjoyed great follow-up, in the presence of their makers. It did not come out with a statement explaining the reason for the significant reduction in ceremonial appearances and the cancellation of red carpets at the opening, at a time when media reports linked this to the tragic events taking place in Gaza, to the earthquake that struck the High Atlas, while conveying statements from administration officials about holding a “calm and more sober” session. During which “all celebrations are abandoned.”

The head of the festival foundation, Prince Moulay Rachid, wrote in an introductory speech to the session, “His return requires us to remember the victims of the tragic natural disaster that struck Morocco more than two months ago.” He added: “In a world where disasters and tensions continue, cinema stands as a lofty bastion of peace, seeking rapprochement between cultures and the discovery of the other,” noting that the “Marrakesh Festival” works to “perpetuate this tradition, so that every screening and meeting becomes an invitation to get to know the other, and an occasion to fuel… The spirit of empathy and sharing experiences and knowledge.”

Rachid spoke about the distinction of this year’s session with the presence of distinguished professionals who continue to write the history of cinema with their talents, pointing out the honoring of two exceptional figures: Mads Mikkelsen and the Moroccan director Faouzi Bensaidi. He also spoke about the official competition jury, composed of international names, headed by American Jessica Chastain, while personalities known for excellence in the world of seventh art are present, as part of the “Dialogue with” segment.

The opening took place in the absence of the festive appearances that characterized previous sessions (the organizing party)

The art of positive change

The opening began with images and scenes evoking the “High Atlas Earthquake,” and the act of solidarity expressed by Moroccans with those affected. The course program was also reviewed, along with the list of films participating in the official competition, before the jury, which includes, was presented to its president; Iranian actress Zar Amir, French actress Camille Cottan, Australian actor and director Joel Edgerton, British director Joanna Hook, American director Dee Rees, Swedish-Egyptian director Tarek Saleh, Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård, and French-Moroccan writer Leila Soleimani.

In this context, Chastain thanked King Mohammed VI and his brother, Prince Moulay Rachid, and also thanked the advisor to the president of the festival foundation, Melita Toscan de Plantier, “for the ability to move forward.” She said that, throughout history, art has been used as a means to communicate and raise awareness about social issues, and to influence positive change.

The 20th session of the International Film Festival kicked off by honoring Danish Mads Mikkelsen (the organizer)

Mikkelsen…talented

For his part, American actor Willem Dafoe expressed his happiness in presenting the honorary star to Mikkelsen, whom he said is “a multi-talented actor who adds depth and intelligence with his touch to roles.” He added: “Mads, who once said: (I am amazed by people who do incomprehensible things), has a strong presence, an unparalleled face and a deep voice. Cinema fans have recognized him in several films, such as (James Bond), (Star Wars), and (Marvel), (Harry Potter), and (Indiana Jones), in addition to the starring role in the (Hannibal) series. However, he remained loyal to international and European auteur cinema.”

Dafoe spoke about his relationship with Mikkelsen: “We worked together for a short time in the film (Gate of Eternity) by Julian Schnabel. His acceptance of a role in one scene, filmed in a day, is evidence of his humility and generosity. The scene was a conversation between a priest and Vincent van Gogh; Beautifully written, but it could have turned into a verbal argument. Mads interacted with the priest he was interviewing with kindness and good humor, which improved the scene. He was a fun partner with his natural diagnosis of roles, and that day will remain a beautiful memory for me.”

Mads Mikkelsen receives the “Golden Star” from Willem Dafoe (the organizer)

For his part, Mikkelsen thanked King Mohammed VI and Prince Rachid: “Thank you for hosting me in your beautiful country, your wonderful city, and your wonderful festival.”

He added: “I visited Marrakesh a few years ago on the occasion of the festival’s honoring of Scandinavian cinema. Here, I met for the first time one of my heroes from the world of cinema, who created countless masterpieces, one of which forever changed my vision of films and characters and their relationship with the recipient. I was eighteen when I saw the movie (Taxi Driver), and I was fifty when I met its director, Martin Scorsese. The film has stayed with me ever since. Then I met Scorsese, and he seemed exactly as I expected to meet him. For all this, I will remain grateful to the festival that recently honored my other hero from the same film, Robert De Niro. I used to watch his films for hours without interruption, and I was beyond impressed. Then I forgot about myself, and that the man was an actor on the screen. “De Niro makes us forget that we are watching a movie.”

The jury, composed of international names, headed by American Jessica Chastain (organiser)

Mikkelsen then spoke about his relationship with Dafoe: “When I was young, I watched an experimental theatrical production whose owners came from America to our small country, Denmark. At that time, I did not have dreams of being an actor. But I went, because I wanted to see this actor whose star shone and who became the craziest and most exciting character in famous films. I followed him that day in Copenhagen, and I was amazed. 5 years ago I worked with him, and I was amazed again. Today, on this night in Marrakesh, he speaks about me with moving words. I could not help but be affected, especially since I was a young man from Copenhagen who did not dream of acting, and yet he had heroes whom he watched repeatedly, who brought him into the worlds of human stories. The festival gave me the opportunity to meet my heroes and share the stage with them.”

The festival administration canceled the “Jemaa El Fna Square Shows” segment (the organizing party)

“Assassin”

Then it was time to show the opening movie, “Hire Hitman” (2023), which is a mixture of action and romantic comedy with a fast pace by Richard Linklater, starring Colin Powell, and is expected to be one of the biggest cinematic successes at the end of the year. Its events revolve around a police officer from the city of Houston, who has an unusual talent for wearing different personalities. He ventures into a suspicious area and succumbs to the charm of a beautiful woman with a criminal tendency, and their intimate relationship results in situations that involve increasingly dangerous risks.

Rich programming

During the 9-day session, the organizers programmed 75 films from 36 countries, divided into the sections “Celebration Screenings”, “Special Screenings”, “The Eleventh Continent”, “Panorama of Moroccan Cinema”, and “Film Screenings for Emerging Audiences”. And “honours”, in addition to the “official competition”, the prizes of which are divided between the “Grand Prize”, with a financial grant of approximately 50 thousand dollars to be shared by the director and producer, the “Jury Prize”, the “Directing Award”, and the “Best Female Role Award”. » And the «Best Male Role Award», competing for 10 films that are the first by their directors, and 8 signed by female film directors.

Cinematic dialogue

In addition to the film screenings program, the “Dialogue with…” segment provides the opportunity to meet the most important names in world cinema, by hosting 11 personalities who discuss professional practice and experiences. The list includes: Japanese director Naomi Kawase, Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, American-Danish actor and director Viggo Mortensen, Scottish actress Tilda Swinton, Russian director and screenwriter Andrey Zvyagintsev, Australian actor and director Simon Baker, American actor and director Matt Dillon, and Moroccan director Faouzi Bensaidi. French director Bertrand Bonello, American actor Willem Dafoe, and Indian director and producer Anurag Kashyap.