Marrakech: Over the years, this grand celebration of cinema has established itself as an essential hub for world cinema, enabling emerging talents to take a decisive step towards international recognition, emphasized the Oscar-winning Korean director during a press conference with the jury members. In Korea, the Festival is garnering growing interest among many filmmakers who “follow it closely and express a desire to present their films there,” he said, noting that it evolved into a major event for Korean creators, attracted by the artistic diversity and international openness offered by the Red City.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, expressing “delight” at being part of the festival jury, Bong also highlighted the profound mission of cinema, believing that “a great film is born when aesthetics, beauty, and pure art coexist with a critical view of society.” He noted that cinema remains a unique space where visual poetry, the confrontation of ideas, and collective memory come together.
For his part, Brazilian-Algerian director, screenwriter, and visual artist Karim Anouz highlighted the importance of this festival, which focuses on a selection of “powerful and intimate” stories. In the same vein, young American actress Jenna Ortega said she was “very honored” to be part of the jury at such a prestigious festival, noting that this experience will be particularly enriching given the abundance and diversity of the films presented there.
Chaired by Bong Joon Ho, this year’s jury brings together several international film personalities, including Jenna Ortega, Karim Anouz, Hakim Belabbes, Julia Ducournau, Payman Maadi, Celine Song, and Anya Taylor-Joy, reflecting the multicultural dimension and plurality of approaches that characterize the festival. Among topics that sparked lively discussion was the impact of artificial intelligence on filmmaking. The jury members unanimously agreed that AI-generated characters could never replace humans, “because no technology can reproduce the sensitivity, emotional complexity, and soul of an actor.”
They argued that technological advances can be a valuable tool for production, but they cannot replace human experience, which remains at the heart of the game, the storytelling, and the empathy that cinema evokes. They emphasized that AI should be used as a complement, not an alternative, in order to safeguard the very essence of cinema.
The jury members also emphasized cinema’s ability to bridge cultures, question societies, and convey universal emotions. They also stated that the festival remains a special place for supporting new voices, encouraging creativity, and promoting a diversity of narratives from across the globe. Placed under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the 22nd Marrakech International Film Festival pays tribute to four major figures in world and Arab cinema: American actress and director Jodie Foster, Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, Moroccan actress Raouya (Fatima Harandi), and Egyptian actor Hussein Fahmy.