Next Step, a program organized by Cannes Critics’ Week whose recent alumni include Molly Manning Walker (“How to Have Sex”), has unveiled the participants of its milestone 10th edition.
Spearheaded by Thomas Rosso, a producer turned artistic director, the workshop selects emerging directors who have had their short films play at Cannes’ parallel section, Critics’ Week, and helps to develop their feature debuts. Over the last decade, Next Step has supported the development of 88 projects, 29 of which have been completed and 13 of which will shoot in 2024.
The filmmakers selected to take part in this edition include Anton Bialas, a French-Swedish filmmaker (“Manta Ray”) developing “Femminielli,” about a baroque nightclub in Paris; Spain’s Irati Gorostidi (“Contadores”) with “Anekumen,” a drama set in 1978 at the end of Franco’s regime in Spain; Swiss helmer Jela Hasler with “To Put Out One Fire,” about a young and idealistic urbanist working in Zurich...
Spearheaded by Thomas Rosso, a producer turned artistic director, the workshop selects emerging directors who have had their short films play at Cannes’ parallel section, Critics’ Week, and helps to develop their feature debuts. Over the last decade, Next Step has supported the development of 88 projects, 29 of which have been completed and 13 of which will shoot in 2024.
The filmmakers selected to take part in this edition include Anton Bialas, a French-Swedish filmmaker (“Manta Ray”) developing “Femminielli,” about a baroque nightclub in Paris; Spain’s Irati Gorostidi (“Contadores”) with “Anekumen,” a drama set in 1978 at the end of Franco’s regime in Spain; Swiss helmer Jela Hasler with “To Put Out One Fire,” about a young and idealistic urbanist working in Zurich...
- 12/15/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The six-day Next Step initiaive is to help feted shorts directors to make a feature.
Ten short-film directors from Egypt, China and throughout Europe have been selected to participate in the 10th edition of the prestigious Next Step prrogramme of Cannes’ Critics’ Week, taking place in Normandy and Paris from December 9-15.
Next Step brings together filmmakers who have premiered their films at Critics’ Week to present their upcoming features in development during a workshop with industry mentors. The aim is to keep up the momentum with filmmakers afterr what can be their frenetic first experience of a major film festival.
Ten short-film directors from Egypt, China and throughout Europe have been selected to participate in the 10th edition of the prestigious Next Step prrogramme of Cannes’ Critics’ Week, taking place in Normandy and Paris from December 9-15.
Next Step brings together filmmakers who have premiered their films at Critics’ Week to present their upcoming features in development during a workshop with industry mentors. The aim is to keep up the momentum with filmmakers afterr what can be their frenetic first experience of a major film festival.
- 12/11/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
The Marrakech Film Festival celebrated its 20th edition this year, arriving at the landmark some 22 years after its 2001 launch due to the missed years of the pandemic.
Like its first year, which took place in the aftermath of the terror attacks of 9/11, the 2023 edition has unfolded in a geopolitically tense time due to the Israel-Hamas war.
The conflict, which prompted a number of Mena festivals to cancel or postpone their fall editions, came on top of the deadly earthquake in September in the nearby Atlas Mountains, which cast doubt on whether the festival would happen.
Festival director Mélita Toscan du Plantier says that once Morocco had taken the decision to continue with festival in the wake of the quake there was never any question of cancelling or postponing due to the conflict.
“I couldn’t sleep for days after October 7 and this is now a horrible war for both sides,...
Like its first year, which took place in the aftermath of the terror attacks of 9/11, the 2023 edition has unfolded in a geopolitically tense time due to the Israel-Hamas war.
The conflict, which prompted a number of Mena festivals to cancel or postpone their fall editions, came on top of the deadly earthquake in September in the nearby Atlas Mountains, which cast doubt on whether the festival would happen.
Festival director Mélita Toscan du Plantier says that once Morocco had taken the decision to continue with festival in the wake of the quake there was never any question of cancelling or postponing due to the conflict.
“I couldn’t sleep for days after October 7 and this is now a horrible war for both sides,...
- 12/1/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Melita Toscan du Plantier has been the driving force behind the Marrakech Film Festival ever since her late husband, revered French producer Daniel Toscan du Plantier, wrote to Morocco’s king two decades ago expressing “his ambition for a big international festival in Morocco,” as she recounts.
The festival’s 20th edition is currently underway in the ancient Moroccan city, despite the Israel-Hamas conflict that has caused cancellations of several other fests in the region as well as the earthquake that hit the country in September. Significantly, a slew of stars have turned up to support the event such as Tilda Swinton, Jessica Chastain (who is presiding over the main jury) and Isabelle Huppert.
Variety spoke to Melita Toscan du Plantier about navigating this year’s many challenges, including the increasingly crowded end-of-year Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region festival season.
You are the key figure behind this festival since its inception 20 years ago.
The festival’s 20th edition is currently underway in the ancient Moroccan city, despite the Israel-Hamas conflict that has caused cancellations of several other fests in the region as well as the earthquake that hit the country in September. Significantly, a slew of stars have turned up to support the event such as Tilda Swinton, Jessica Chastain (who is presiding over the main jury) and Isabelle Huppert.
Variety spoke to Melita Toscan du Plantier about navigating this year’s many challenges, including the increasingly crowded end-of-year Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region festival season.
You are the key figure behind this festival since its inception 20 years ago.
- 11/27/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Jessica Chastain, resplendent in a shimmering silver tasseled jump suit, championed the power of art to bring about positive change at the opening night of the Marrakech Film Festival on Friday evening.
The actress is the attending the Moroccan film festival as the president of the jury.
She was joined on stage by jury members Iranian Holy Spider actress Zar Amir, Call My Agent! star Camille Cottin, Australian actor and director Joel Edgerton, UK director Joanna Hogg, U.S. director Dee Rees and Swedish filmmaker Tarik Saleh and actor Alexander Skarsgård.
“Throughout history art has been used as an accessible tool for communication, raising awareness about social issues and effecting positive change,” she said.
Citing the words of renowned anthropologist Margaret Mead on the power of “a small group of thoughtful committed citizens” to change the world, Chastain called on all those in the theatre to embrace the arts.
“I...
The actress is the attending the Moroccan film festival as the president of the jury.
She was joined on stage by jury members Iranian Holy Spider actress Zar Amir, Call My Agent! star Camille Cottin, Australian actor and director Joel Edgerton, UK director Joanna Hogg, U.S. director Dee Rees and Swedish filmmaker Tarik Saleh and actor Alexander Skarsgård.
“Throughout history art has been used as an accessible tool for communication, raising awareness about social issues and effecting positive change,” she said.
Citing the words of renowned anthropologist Margaret Mead on the power of “a small group of thoughtful committed citizens” to change the world, Chastain called on all those in the theatre to embrace the arts.
“I...
- 11/24/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
The Marrakech Film Festival’s 20th edition kicks off on Friday with Richard Linklater’s action comedy “Hit Man” as its gala opening, Mads Mikkelsen being feted, and a rich roster of stars and top talents supporting a panoply of cinema from the African continent and the Arab world.
The event will run Nov. 24-Dec. 2 in the ancient Moroccan city despite the Israel-Hamas conflict that has caused cancellations of several other fests in the region, as well as the earthquake that hit the country in September. It’s being held in a more sober form in a spirit of resilience to keep the flame of filmmaking burning in the region, which is cinematically vibrant but has a crucial need for connection with geographically distant countries in Africa and the Arab world as well as with the international circuit at large.
Variety spoke to the fest’s artistic director Rémi Bonhomme...
The event will run Nov. 24-Dec. 2 in the ancient Moroccan city despite the Israel-Hamas conflict that has caused cancellations of several other fests in the region, as well as the earthquake that hit the country in September. It’s being held in a more sober form in a spirit of resilience to keep the flame of filmmaking burning in the region, which is cinematically vibrant but has a crucial need for connection with geographically distant countries in Africa and the Arab world as well as with the international circuit at large.
Variety spoke to the fest’s artistic director Rémi Bonhomme...
- 11/24/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Tunisian Youssef Chebbi’s “Plague,” Moroccan Adnane Baraka’s “We Don’t Forget” and Meryam Joobeur’s “Motherhood” feature among buzz titles at this year’s Marrakech Festival Atlas Workshops, which will have Martin Scorsese as their official patron.
Consolidated as a key platform for Moroccan, Arab and African projects and pix in production made by a new generation of filmmakers and created by Marrakech Festival artistic director Remi Bonhomme, the Atlas Workshops unspool Nov. 27-30. They take place alongside the 20th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival, which runs from Nov. 24-Dec. 2.
In a definite potential highlight of the Atlas Workshops, Meryjam Joubeur, whose “Brotherhood” was Oscar nominated for best live action short, will present 10 minutes of “Motherhood,” one of the awaited feature debuts of 2023. It is sure to spark major festival interest.
“Plague” marks Chebbi’s second feature after acclaimed Cannes Directors’ Fortnight genre blender “Ashkal: The Tunisian Investigation,...
Consolidated as a key platform for Moroccan, Arab and African projects and pix in production made by a new generation of filmmakers and created by Marrakech Festival artistic director Remi Bonhomme, the Atlas Workshops unspool Nov. 27-30. They take place alongside the 20th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival, which runs from Nov. 24-Dec. 2.
In a definite potential highlight of the Atlas Workshops, Meryjam Joubeur, whose “Brotherhood” was Oscar nominated for best live action short, will present 10 minutes of “Motherhood,” one of the awaited feature debuts of 2023. It is sure to spark major festival interest.
“Plague” marks Chebbi’s second feature after acclaimed Cannes Directors’ Fortnight genre blender “Ashkal: The Tunisian Investigation,...
- 11/3/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Event helps directors of shorts playing in the sidebar make their feature debuts.
Cannes’ Critics Week has wrapped the ninth edition of its Next Step programme which helps short film directors from its past festival selections make the leap between short and feature films.
This year’s crop of aspiring filmmakers included Portugese director Sofia Bost, Mexican filmmaker Jorge Sistos Moreno, British filmmaker Joseph Pierce, Greek filmmakers Evi Kalogiropoulou and Manolis Mavris, and Chinese directors Lin Tu and Hao Zhao.
The group headed to France from December 3-9 with their feature film projects, first at the Moulin d’Andé residence...
Cannes’ Critics Week has wrapped the ninth edition of its Next Step programme which helps short film directors from its past festival selections make the leap between short and feature films.
This year’s crop of aspiring filmmakers included Portugese director Sofia Bost, Mexican filmmaker Jorge Sistos Moreno, British filmmaker Joseph Pierce, Greek filmmakers Evi Kalogiropoulou and Manolis Mavris, and Chinese directors Lin Tu and Hao Zhao.
The group headed to France from December 3-9 with their feature film projects, first at the Moulin d’Andé residence...
- 12/10/2022
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Melita Toscan du Plantier, the driving force behind the Marrakech Film Festival, is developing the next directorial outing of Fanny Ardant with Martin Scorsese attached to executive produce.
The movie will star Gerard Depardieu and revolve around an impossible relationship between siblings. Toscan du Plantier, who splits her time between production and the organization of the Marrakech Film Festival, is producing the film with Julien Madon whose banner Cheyenne Productions is owned by Federation.
The untitled project was penned by Ardant in collaboration with Jacques Fieschi, the co-screenwriter of “Lost Illusions” and “Mal de Pierres.” Toscan du Plantier said Scorsese will be creatively involved in the production, from the script – which was translated for him — to the editing.
The project is being developed by Toscan du Plantier and Julien Madon’s banner with whom Toscan du Plantier has a first look deal. The pair is already working with Scorsese on “Funny Birds,...
The movie will star Gerard Depardieu and revolve around an impossible relationship between siblings. Toscan du Plantier, who splits her time between production and the organization of the Marrakech Film Festival, is producing the film with Julien Madon whose banner Cheyenne Productions is owned by Federation.
The untitled project was penned by Ardant in collaboration with Jacques Fieschi, the co-screenwriter of “Lost Illusions” and “Mal de Pierres.” Toscan du Plantier said Scorsese will be creatively involved in the production, from the script – which was translated for him — to the editing.
The project is being developed by Toscan du Plantier and Julien Madon’s banner with whom Toscan du Plantier has a first look deal. The pair is already working with Scorsese on “Funny Birds,...
- 11/19/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Moroccan-born French director Yasmine Benkiran, whose feature debut “Queens” opened at Venice and is playing at the Marrakech Film Festival, is now developing two ambitious features.
“Queens,” which was developed at the Atlas Workshops, the industry sidebar running alongside the Marrakech Film Festival, is a rare Moroccan film weaving adventure and genre with strong female protagonists.
Benkiran is set to continue exploring complex female characters which her upcoming projects, including a spy movie titled “Elles ont brillé sur le Nil” (“They Shined on the Nile”). The project, which has received support from the Ile de France region, is set in 1950’s Cairo, Egypt. The story revolves around Zeyna, a makeup artist who is investigating the mysterious death of Amal El Abrach, a famous Syrian-born actress known as Asmahan.
“Asmahan was an amazing actress and singer whose fame was compared with that of Marilyn Monroe and she also died in tragic circumstances,...
“Queens,” which was developed at the Atlas Workshops, the industry sidebar running alongside the Marrakech Film Festival, is a rare Moroccan film weaving adventure and genre with strong female protagonists.
Benkiran is set to continue exploring complex female characters which her upcoming projects, including a spy movie titled “Elles ont brillé sur le Nil” (“They Shined on the Nile”). The project, which has received support from the Ile de France region, is set in 1950’s Cairo, Egypt. The story revolves around Zeyna, a makeup artist who is investigating the mysterious death of Amal El Abrach, a famous Syrian-born actress known as Asmahan.
“Asmahan was an amazing actress and singer whose fame was compared with that of Marilyn Monroe and she also died in tragic circumstances,...
- 11/19/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Boasting a selection of 76 films from 33 countries spread across seven sections, this year’s Marrakech Film Festival will offer no shortage of cinematic treasure. Running over Nov. 11 – 19, the festival’s 19th edition will open with “Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio” ahead of gala screenings of James Gray’s “Armageddon Time,” Paul Schrader’s “Master Gardener,” and Sally El Hosaini’s “The Swimmers.”
While hosting a handful of world premieres – including Anurag Kashyap’s Bollywood-flavored “Almost Love,” to be presented outdoors at Marrakech’s Jemaa El Fna Square – this year’s festival will also spotlight a number of jewels from the festival circuit.
Below are fourteen standouts from this year’s program.
“Abdelinho” (dir. Hicham Ayouch) (Moroccan Panorama)
Satirical comedy “Abdelinho” follows a young Moroccan man with samba in his bones and Brazil ever on his mind. Director Hicham Ayouch’s bright crowd-pleaser is one of several finished projects to graduate...
While hosting a handful of world premieres – including Anurag Kashyap’s Bollywood-flavored “Almost Love,” to be presented outdoors at Marrakech’s Jemaa El Fna Square – this year’s festival will also spotlight a number of jewels from the festival circuit.
Below are fourteen standouts from this year’s program.
“Abdelinho” (dir. Hicham Ayouch) (Moroccan Panorama)
Satirical comedy “Abdelinho” follows a young Moroccan man with samba in his bones and Brazil ever on his mind. Director Hicham Ayouch’s bright crowd-pleaser is one of several finished projects to graduate...
- 11/11/2022
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
After a two-year, pandemic-forced pause, the Marrakech Film Festival returns with a roar, hosting a comeback edition chock-full of stars and that will showcase an international competition of first and second films.
Running from Nov. 11 – 19, the festival’s 19th edition will also cap an already stellar year for the Moroccan film industry, as the cultural event hosts home-turf premieres for a slate of local productions that have enchanted the festival circuit.
“This has been a very strong year for Moroccan cinema,” says Marrakech artistic director Rémi Bonhomme, pointing to projects like Maryam Touzani’s “The Blue Caftan,” (pictured), Fyzal Boulifa’s “The Damned Don’t Cry,” Yasmine Benkiran’s “Queens” and Adnane Baraka’s “Fragments of Heaven.”
“It’s quite historic that four Moroccan films were selected in Cannes, Venice, and Locarno this year. We see more and more Arab and African films play in international festivals and getting access to international distribution,...
Running from Nov. 11 – 19, the festival’s 19th edition will also cap an already stellar year for the Moroccan film industry, as the cultural event hosts home-turf premieres for a slate of local productions that have enchanted the festival circuit.
“This has been a very strong year for Moroccan cinema,” says Marrakech artistic director Rémi Bonhomme, pointing to projects like Maryam Touzani’s “The Blue Caftan,” (pictured), Fyzal Boulifa’s “The Damned Don’t Cry,” Yasmine Benkiran’s “Queens” and Adnane Baraka’s “Fragments of Heaven.”
“It’s quite historic that four Moroccan films were selected in Cannes, Venice, and Locarno this year. We see more and more Arab and African films play in international festivals and getting access to international distribution,...
- 11/11/2022
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
This year’s edition (and long-awaited return to in-person festivities) of the Marrakech Film Festival will have a comp section that distinctly plucks from the lesser-known titles from Cannes’ sidebar sections and contains a good handful of titles that just preemed at this year’s TIFF. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Rémi Bonhomme, the competition section is less flashy, but there are indeed some gems. Of the Toronto offerings, we have the Platform section pair of Carmen Jaquier’s Thunder (read review) and section winner Riceboy Sleeps by Anthony Shim. We have TIFF Discovery section selections in the wintery Snow and the Bear by Selcen Ergun and Ehab Tarabieh’s The Taste of Apples is Red.…...
- 10/14/2022
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
A starry group of global talent has been set to join Paolo Sorrentino on the main jury for the 19th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival which runs from November 11-19 in the Moroccan city.
Alongside Sorrentino, who was named jury president last month, panelists are a host of award-winners including Danish writer/director Susanne Bier, Guatemalan-born U.S. actor and producer Oscar Isaac, British actor Vanessa Kirby, German actor Diane Kruger, Australian director Justin Kurzel, Lebanese director and actor Nadine Labaki, Moroccan director Laïla Marrakchi and French actor Tahar Rahim.
The international jury will award the Étoile d’Or to one of the 14 first and second feature films in the competition, which is dedicated to the discovery of filmmakers from around the world.
This will be a particularly significant edition for Marrakech as it marks the event’s first in-person iteration since 2019 after the pandemic led to its...
Alongside Sorrentino, who was named jury president last month, panelists are a host of award-winners including Danish writer/director Susanne Bier, Guatemalan-born U.S. actor and producer Oscar Isaac, British actor Vanessa Kirby, German actor Diane Kruger, Australian director Justin Kurzel, Lebanese director and actor Nadine Labaki, Moroccan director Laïla Marrakchi and French actor Tahar Rahim.
The international jury will award the Étoile d’Or to one of the 14 first and second feature films in the competition, which is dedicated to the discovery of filmmakers from around the world.
This will be a particularly significant edition for Marrakech as it marks the event’s first in-person iteration since 2019 after the pandemic led to its...
- 10/11/2022
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Italian director Paolo Sorrentino has been named as jury president of Morocco’s Marrakech International Film Festival, which will run as a physical event for the first time in three years from 11 to 19 November.
The Oscar-winning The Great Beauty and nominated The Hand Of God filmmaker previously attended the festival in 2013, as a member of the jury presided over by Martin Scorsese alongside Marion Cotillard, Golshifteh Farahani and Park Chan-wook among others.
“The Marrakech International Film Festival is for me the place where the dream of watching numerous films with Martin Scorsese, and of spending days talking about cinema with him and other talented colleagues, came true,” said Sorrentino.
The jury awards the festival’s Golden Star (Étoile d’Or) to one of the 14 first or second feature films in the international competition. Recent winners include Austrian director Sudabeh Mortezai’s Joy (2018) and Colombian filmmaker Nicolas Rincon Gille’s Valley...
The Oscar-winning The Great Beauty and nominated The Hand Of God filmmaker previously attended the festival in 2013, as a member of the jury presided over by Martin Scorsese alongside Marion Cotillard, Golshifteh Farahani and Park Chan-wook among others.
“The Marrakech International Film Festival is for me the place where the dream of watching numerous films with Martin Scorsese, and of spending days talking about cinema with him and other talented colleagues, came true,” said Sorrentino.
The jury awards the festival’s Golden Star (Étoile d’Or) to one of the 14 first or second feature films in the international competition. Recent winners include Austrian director Sudabeh Mortezai’s Joy (2018) and Colombian filmmaker Nicolas Rincon Gille’s Valley...
- 9/7/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Physical festival had been due to take place in Marrakech with new new artistic director Remi Bonhomme at the helm.
The Marrakech International Film Festival Foundation in Morocco has cancelled its festival component and moved its industry-focused Atlas Workshops online, in response to the ongoing health concerns around the Covid-19 pandemic.
Talent and project development event the Altlas Workshops was launched in 2018.
It distinguishes itself from other industry meetings in the Middle East by its focus on both Arab and African filmmakers and aims to act as a bridge between the industries of both regions.
The third edition will take...
The Marrakech International Film Festival Foundation in Morocco has cancelled its festival component and moved its industry-focused Atlas Workshops online, in response to the ongoing health concerns around the Covid-19 pandemic.
Talent and project development event the Altlas Workshops was launched in 2018.
It distinguishes itself from other industry meetings in the Middle East by its focus on both Arab and African filmmakers and aims to act as a bridge between the industries of both regions.
The third edition will take...
- 9/10/2020
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Cate Blanchett will preside over this year’s Venice competition jury.
UK filmmaker Joanna Hogg, Austria’s Veronika Franz, Germany’s Christian Petzold, Romanian director Cristi Puiu, French actress Ludivine Sagnier and Italian writer Nicola Lagioia will comprise the main competition jury for this year’s Venice International Film Festival (September 2-12)
They join previously announced jury president Cate Blanchett.
French filmmaker Claire Denis will preside over the Orizzonti jury, which also includes Spanish directors Oskar Alegria and Italy’s Francesca Comencini; US producer Christine Vachon and Israeli producer Katriel Schory, the former executive director of the Israel Film Fund...
UK filmmaker Joanna Hogg, Austria’s Veronika Franz, Germany’s Christian Petzold, Romanian director Cristi Puiu, French actress Ludivine Sagnier and Italian writer Nicola Lagioia will comprise the main competition jury for this year’s Venice International Film Festival (September 2-12)
They join previously announced jury president Cate Blanchett.
French filmmaker Claire Denis will preside over the Orizzonti jury, which also includes Spanish directors Oskar Alegria and Italy’s Francesca Comencini; US producer Christine Vachon and Israeli producer Katriel Schory, the former executive director of the Israel Film Fund...
- 7/27/2020
- by 1101184¦Orlando Parfitt¦38¦
- ScreenDaily
The Venice Film Festival is setting up quite the internationally starry jury this year. Running September 2-12, the festival has revealed all its jury members as led by president Cate Blanchett. Joining her will be Austrian director Veronika Franz, British filmmaker Joanna Hogg (“The Souvenir”), Italian writer and novelist Nicola Lagioia, German filmmaker Christian Petzold, Romanian director Cristi Puiu, and French actress Ludivine Sagnier.
Together, they will award the festival’s top prizes, including the Golden Lion, which last year went to “Joker” under jury president Lucrecia Martel.
Meaning, in the Orizzonti, or Horizons, section running parallel to the main competition, French favorite Claire Denis will lead the jury comprised of Oskar Alegria (Spain), Francesca Comencini (Italy), Katriel Schory (Israel), and Christine Vachon (USA).
Heading the jury for the “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film are Claudio Giovannesi (Italy) as president, Remi Bonhomme (France), and Dora Bouchoucha...
Together, they will award the festival’s top prizes, including the Golden Lion, which last year went to “Joker” under jury president Lucrecia Martel.
Meaning, in the Orizzonti, or Horizons, section running parallel to the main competition, French favorite Claire Denis will lead the jury comprised of Oskar Alegria (Spain), Francesca Comencini (Italy), Katriel Schory (Israel), and Christine Vachon (USA).
Heading the jury for the “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film are Claudio Giovannesi (Italy) as president, Remi Bonhomme (France), and Dora Bouchoucha...
- 7/26/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
The 77th Venice Film Festival (September 2 – 12) has revealed all jury members, with Competition jury president Cate Blanchett joined by Austrian director Veronika Franz (Goodnight Mommy), Brit filmmaker Joanna Hogg (The Souvenir), Italian writer Nicola Lagioia, German filmmaker Christian Petzold (Barbara), Romanian director Cristi Puiu (The Death of Mr. Lazarescu) and French actress Ludivine Sagnier (La Vérité).
The Orizzonti jury will be presided over by French director Claire Denis (High Life), and comprise Oskar Alegria (Spain), Francesca Comencini (Italy), Katriel Schory (Israel) and Christine Vachon (USA).
The selectors of the “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film are Claudio Giovannesi (Italy) as president, Remi Bonhomme (France) and Dora Bouchoucha (Tunisia).
The festival’s Venice Virtual Reality jury will be headed by Celine Tricart as president (USA), and also include Asif Kapadia (Great Britain) and Hideo Kojima (Japan).
The festival, the first major physical film get-together since the pandemic struck earlier this year,...
The Orizzonti jury will be presided over by French director Claire Denis (High Life), and comprise Oskar Alegria (Spain), Francesca Comencini (Italy), Katriel Schory (Israel) and Christine Vachon (USA).
The selectors of the “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film are Claudio Giovannesi (Italy) as president, Remi Bonhomme (France) and Dora Bouchoucha (Tunisia).
The festival’s Venice Virtual Reality jury will be headed by Celine Tricart as president (USA), and also include Asif Kapadia (Great Britain) and Hideo Kojima (Japan).
The festival, the first major physical film get-together since the pandemic struck earlier this year,...
- 7/26/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The Venice Film Festival has revealed the rosters of its main juries — a move that indicates organizers expect a robust contingent of top international talent and industry executives to make the trek to the Lido for the fest’s planned physical edition in September.
The U.K.’s Joanna Hogg (“The Souvenir”), Germany’s Christian Petzold (“Undine”) and Romania’s Cristi Puiu (“Sieranevada”) are among the directors who will join the fest’s main jury, over which Cate Blanchett will preside, as previously announced.
Austrian auteur Veronika Franz (“The Lodge”), Italian writer Nicola Lagioia and French actor Ludivine Sagnier round out the Europe-centric main competition jury.
Meanwhile, French director, screenwriter and actor Claire Denis, whose “White Material” premiered in Venice in 2018, will oversee the jury for Venice’s more cutting-edge Horizons section.
Joining Denis on the Horizons jury are U.S. producer Christine Vachon, best known for shepherding Todd Haynes’ “Far From Heaven,...
The U.K.’s Joanna Hogg (“The Souvenir”), Germany’s Christian Petzold (“Undine”) and Romania’s Cristi Puiu (“Sieranevada”) are among the directors who will join the fest’s main jury, over which Cate Blanchett will preside, as previously announced.
Austrian auteur Veronika Franz (“The Lodge”), Italian writer Nicola Lagioia and French actor Ludivine Sagnier round out the Europe-centric main competition jury.
Meanwhile, French director, screenwriter and actor Claire Denis, whose “White Material” premiered in Venice in 2018, will oversee the jury for Venice’s more cutting-edge Horizons section.
Joining Denis on the Horizons jury are U.S. producer Christine Vachon, best known for shepherding Todd Haynes’ “Far From Heaven,...
- 7/26/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Remi Bonhomme, a leading force behind Cannes’ Critics Week, has been appointed artistic director of the Marrakech Film Festival and its industry conference, the Atlas Workshops.
In recent years, Bonhomme successfully headed the Atlas Workshops, a platform dedicated to supporting the cinema of the African continent and the Arab world, where he was also part of the programming team.
Bonhomme will now be leaving his position at Critics’ Week after the upcoming edition in order to take full reins of the Marrakech festival.
During his 11-year tenure at Critics’ Week, Bonhomme has worked closely with the sidebar’s artistic director Charles Tesson on the selection, and he also launched Next Step, a workshop dedicated to helping directors as they work towards their first feature-length works.
At Marrakech, Bonhomme will be joined by a new selection committee whose members have made their mark at Cannes and Toronto film festivals. These include...
In recent years, Bonhomme successfully headed the Atlas Workshops, a platform dedicated to supporting the cinema of the African continent and the Arab world, where he was also part of the programming team.
Bonhomme will now be leaving his position at Critics’ Week after the upcoming edition in order to take full reins of the Marrakech festival.
During his 11-year tenure at Critics’ Week, Bonhomme has worked closely with the sidebar’s artistic director Charles Tesson on the selection, and he also launched Next Step, a workshop dedicated to helping directors as they work towards their first feature-length works.
At Marrakech, Bonhomme will be joined by a new selection committee whose members have made their mark at Cannes and Toronto film festivals. These include...
- 2/17/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Lamia Chraibi, a leading producer of daring films from the Middle East and North Africa region, is developing “Meskoun,” an ambitious pan-Arab genre-bending series with Moroccan filmmaker Hicham Lasri (“Jahilya”) on board as showrunner.
Chraibi (“Mimosas”) will produce the 14-episode series with her Moroccan banner La Prod, along with Mohamed Hefzy’s Egyptian company Film Clinic, Lebanese outfit Abbout Productions and Habib Attia’s Tunisian company Cinetelefilms.
“Meskoun” follows Lotfi, a young man who lost his fiancée and decides to take off to Europe without a permit, and tries crossing the sea. But Lotfi ends up drowning in high waters with seven other illegal immigrants from different nationalities. A month later, he reemerges inhabited by the souls of the seven strangers who drowned with him. In order to free himself from these souls, Lotfi, who has become a sort of unwilling superhero, must accomplish their respective last wish, taking him...
Chraibi (“Mimosas”) will produce the 14-episode series with her Moroccan banner La Prod, along with Mohamed Hefzy’s Egyptian company Film Clinic, Lebanese outfit Abbout Productions and Habib Attia’s Tunisian company Cinetelefilms.
“Meskoun” follows Lotfi, a young man who lost his fiancée and decides to take off to Europe without a permit, and tries crossing the sea. But Lotfi ends up drowning in high waters with seven other illegal immigrants from different nationalities. A month later, he reemerges inhabited by the souls of the seven strangers who drowned with him. In order to free himself from these souls, Lotfi, who has become a sort of unwilling superhero, must accomplish their respective last wish, taking him...
- 12/5/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Second edition of project platform will showcase 28 feature projects.
Upcoming feature films by Egyptian director Tamer el Said and Moroccan Bafta nominee Ismaël Ferroukhi are among the 28 projects to be showcased at the second edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival’s Atlas Workshops, running December 3 to 6.
“We got off to a good start in the first edition,” says Remi Bonhomme, who has spearheaded the meeting.
He notes the winner of the last year’s main post-production prize– Hassen Ferhani’s documentary 143 Sahara Street – went on to enjoy a successful festival career, clinching the best emerging director prize in...
Upcoming feature films by Egyptian director Tamer el Said and Moroccan Bafta nominee Ismaël Ferroukhi are among the 28 projects to be showcased at the second edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival’s Atlas Workshops, running December 3 to 6.
“We got off to a good start in the first edition,” says Remi Bonhomme, who has spearheaded the meeting.
He notes the winner of the last year’s main post-production prize– Hassen Ferhani’s documentary 143 Sahara Street – went on to enjoy a successful festival career, clinching the best emerging director prize in...
- 11/29/2019
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Finnish poet-turned-filmmaker Mikko Myllylahti’s feature debut, “The Woodcutter Story,” won Cannes’ Critics’ Week inaugural Next Step award, part of a program aimed at helping the directors of the 10 shorts playing in the sidebar to make their feature debut.
“The Woodcutter Story,” which is being developed by the production banner Aamu Film Company, unfolds in Finland’s Lapland, in a quiet village where a dark force enters and sparks a series of tragic events. The tragedies start dragging down the morale of all but one villager, the local woodcutter whose unflinching optimism becomes suspicious.
Myllylahti said the movie mixed black comedy, surrealism and metaphorical thriller elements. He said the movie would also carry an environmental theme and would be about hope. The filmmaker, who has had four collections of poems published, said the tone of “The Woodcutter Story” was inspired by the Coen brothers’ “No Country for Old Men” and the work of Robert Bresson.
“The Woodcutter Story,” which is being developed by the production banner Aamu Film Company, unfolds in Finland’s Lapland, in a quiet village where a dark force enters and sparks a series of tragic events. The tragedies start dragging down the morale of all but one villager, the local woodcutter whose unflinching optimism becomes suspicious.
Myllylahti said the movie mixed black comedy, surrealism and metaphorical thriller elements. He said the movie would also carry an environmental theme and would be about hope. The filmmaker, who has had four collections of poems published, said the tone of “The Woodcutter Story” was inspired by the Coen brothers’ “No Country for Old Men” and the work of Robert Bresson.
- 5/18/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has played a prominent role in this year’s edition of the Marrakech Intl. Film Festival through sponsorship of the main industry event – the Atlas Workshops – and its recent investments in projects involving two of the fest’s highest profile guests – Martin Scorsese (“The Irishman”) and Guillermo del Toro (“Pinocchio”).
The streamer recently talked of plans to order original series from Africa as part of its international expansion. It is reported to be securing a rising market share in the Moroccan TV market, in the context of its wider strategy to establish a major footprint across the African and Arab markets.
Securing attractive original local content is key to Netflix’s plans and in this exclusive interview with Variety, Funa Maduka, director of international original films for Netflix, talks about the company’s strategy for the Middle East and African markets.
As sponsor of the Atlas Workshops and as...
The streamer recently talked of plans to order original series from Africa as part of its international expansion. It is reported to be securing a rising market share in the Moroccan TV market, in the context of its wider strategy to establish a major footprint across the African and Arab markets.
Securing attractive original local content is key to Netflix’s plans and in this exclusive interview with Variety, Funa Maduka, director of international original films for Netflix, talks about the company’s strategy for the Middle East and African markets.
As sponsor of the Atlas Workshops and as...
- 12/7/2018
- by Martin Dale
- Variety Film + TV
Hassen Ferhani’s “Kilometers 60” won the €20,000 post-production prize Wednesday at Marrakech Film Festival’s Atlas Workshops, a four-day fast-track program for 14 projects from Africa.
The Atlas Workshops, one of the key innovations of this year’s festival, were sponsored by Netflix and coordinated by Remi Bonhomme (pictured), program manager of the Cannes’ Critics’ Week.
“Kilometers 60,” a documentary about an elderly lady who runs a tiny café on a highway in Algeria, is described by Ferhani as a “road movie that stays in one place.” His previous feature, “Roundabout in My Head,” was a hit on the festival circuit. The helmer said that he was delighted to receive the prize and the overall experience of attending the workshop in particular in terms of the editing advice provided.
Six projects competed for the prize, with a jury formed by Match Factory’s Zsuzsi Bánkuti, Moroccan producer Saïd Hamich and Cannes Critics Week’s artistic director Charles Tesson.
The Atlas Workshops, one of the key innovations of this year’s festival, were sponsored by Netflix and coordinated by Remi Bonhomme (pictured), program manager of the Cannes’ Critics’ Week.
“Kilometers 60,” a documentary about an elderly lady who runs a tiny café on a highway in Algeria, is described by Ferhani as a “road movie that stays in one place.” His previous feature, “Roundabout in My Head,” was a hit on the festival circuit. The helmer said that he was delighted to receive the prize and the overall experience of attending the workshop in particular in terms of the editing advice provided.
Six projects competed for the prize, with a jury formed by Match Factory’s Zsuzsi Bánkuti, Moroccan producer Saïd Hamich and Cannes Critics Week’s artistic director Charles Tesson.
- 12/5/2018
- by Martin Dale
- Variety Film + TV
After taking a pause last year, the Marrakech Intl. Film Festival returns this with a new artistic director – Christoph Terhechte, former head of the Berlin Film Festival’s avant-garde Forum section, who was appointed in June. Terhechte has revamped this year’s edition, welcoming some of the festival’s oldest friends, including Martin Scorsese, complemented by new ventures such as the Atlas Workshops, sponsored by Netflix, that aims to nurture upcoming Arab filmmakers. Terhechte’s Marrakech programming team includes Ali Hajji, the fest’s former general coordinator; Rasha Salti, selector for various festivals, including Abu Dhabi and Toronto; film critic Anke Leweke, member of Berlin’s selection committee since 2002; and Remi Bonhomme, general coordinator of the Cannes Film Festival’s Critics’ Week. In this exclusive interview with Variety, Terhechte talks about the 17th edition of the festival, which bowed Friday, and runs until Dec. 8.
The 2018 lineup is impressive with many old friends of the festival,...
The 2018 lineup is impressive with many old friends of the festival,...
- 11/30/2018
- by Martin Dale
- Variety Film + TV
Robert De Niro will be celebrated with a special tribute at the 17th edition of the Marrakech Film Festival.
“Although I have been to Marrakech on several occasions, I feel I am now seeing a side of Marrakech I have always wanted to see,” said the Oscar-winning actor. “I am most grateful for this invitation, and am looking forward to being a part of a great festival.”
De Niro’s next project is “The Irishman,” directed by Martin Scorsese, which their ninth collaboration. The pair are producing the film together. Now in post, the anticipated Netflix movie also stars Al Pacino and Jesse Plemons.
De Niro won an Oscar for best supporting actor for Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather: Part II,” and an Oscar for best actor for Scorsese’s “Raging Bull.”
De Niro also runs his production company, Tribeca Productions, as well as the Tribeca Film Festival, which...
“Although I have been to Marrakech on several occasions, I feel I am now seeing a side of Marrakech I have always wanted to see,” said the Oscar-winning actor. “I am most grateful for this invitation, and am looking forward to being a part of a great festival.”
De Niro’s next project is “The Irishman,” directed by Martin Scorsese, which their ninth collaboration. The pair are producing the film together. Now in post, the anticipated Netflix movie also stars Al Pacino and Jesse Plemons.
De Niro won an Oscar for best supporting actor for Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather: Part II,” and an Oscar for best actor for Scorsese’s “Raging Bull.”
De Niro also runs his production company, Tribeca Productions, as well as the Tribeca Film Festival, which...
- 10/1/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.