MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) 鈥� Film industry leaders in Marrakech attending one of the Arab world's largest film festivals emphasized Friday the importance of elevating cinema and artistic expression amid a shadow cast by and an earthquake that struck Morocco less than three months ago.
"In the weeks leading up to the festival, we were not sure that we would even be able to be here. The world we share is shattered and devoured," said American actor Jessica Chastain, serving as the president of the festival's jury, in a speech on the festival's opening night.
鈥淭hroughout history, art has been used as an accessible tool for communication, raising awareness about social issues and affecting positive change," she added.
Surrounded by red carpet crowds and flashing camera lights, others agreed.
鈥淲e know what鈥檚 happening and don鈥檛 forget it,鈥� said Melita Toscan Du Plantier, director of the Marrakech International Film Festival. 鈥淏ut heart is important. Heart is a weapon against obscurity and against conflict. We鈥檙e here to talk about heart, show movies and talk about directors from this region.鈥�
Organizers said they looked forward to showcasing cinema from Morocco, the Middle East and Africa. Throughout the week, they plan to honor Moroccan director Faouzi Bensaidi, and workshop films from throughout the region in a developmental program presided over by director Martin Scorsese.
The festival opened Friday with Richard Linklater鈥檚 action-comedy 鈥淗it Man.鈥� Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen was honored with a career achievement award for his films including 鈥淎nother Round," 鈥淩ogue One: A Star Wars Story鈥� and 鈥淐asino Royale,鈥� in which he played a Bond villain.
The festival is expected to feature more than 70 additional films, including Michel Franco鈥檚 鈥淢emory,鈥� starring Chastain, and Matteo Garrone鈥檚 Italian immigration drama 鈥淚o Capitano.鈥�
It's one of Morocco's most widely publicized international events and comes in the aftermath of an on the mountain communities surrounding Marrakech. Moroccan Prince Moulay Rachid, who leads the foundation responsible for the festival, called it a 鈥渂astion of peace that brings people closer together.鈥�
The prince said in a statement that the festival was an 鈥渋nvitation for discovery, empathy and sharing."
The Marrakech International Film Festival, along with Saudi Arabia鈥檚 Red Sea Film Festival that is scheduled to open next week, are taking place as protests sweep North Africa and the Middle East, including Morocco, over the war in Gaza. That鈥檚 in contrast to the Cairo International Film Festival and Tunisia鈥檚 Carthage Film Festival, both of which were canceled due to the war.
The festival is scheduled to run through Dec. 2.
Sam Metz, The Associated Press
