Marrakesh cinema festival downs curtains
Morocco, Culture, 10/3/2001

The Marrakesh International Cinema festival wound up Tuesday evening by a prize awarding ceremony attended by scores of renowned Moroccan and international stars.

After four days of film screening in the imperial city of Marrakesh, the jury, chaired by British actress Charlotte Rampling awarded the festival Grand Prix to "Inch'Allah Dimanche," the first feature film by Yamina Benguigui, an Algerian-born French national.

The jury's special prize went to two films, placed equal, "Adanggaman" of Roger Gnoan M'Bala (Cote d'Ivoire) and "Eu, Tu, Eles" of Andrucha Waddington (Brazil).

The best actress prize went to Moroccan Cha?bia Adraoui for her part in "Mona Saber" by Abdelha? Laraki (Morocco), after a long and rich career both in the cinema and in drama.

The best actor prize was awarded to French Jacques Dutronc for his role in "C'est la vie" by Jean-Pierre Ameris (France), while the public's prize went to "The Unsaid" by Tom McLouchlin (United States).

In the short film official competition, the jury, chaired by French actress Marie-Christine Barrault, awarded the festival grand prix to two films, placed equal, "Jean Far�s" by young Algerian Lyes Salem, who is settled in France, and "Bintou," by young director from Burkina Faso Fanta R?gina Nacro.

A special mention was granted to German cartoons "Endstation: Paradies" by Jan Thuring."

The participation of Moroccan cinema goers has largely exceeded the expectations of the organizers who assess their number to over 20,000.

The festival, held September 28 through October 2, was hailed by many participants and by the international media as a response to terrorism, a symbol of peace, coexistence of various cultures and tolerance.

Several participants lauded Morocco's decision not to cancel the event following the terror attacks in the United States deeming the decision a means to denounce terrorism.

They also underlined the salvation role the motion picture can play in fostering understanding between peoples and cultures and in countering fanaticism and intolerance.

The festival was highlighted by a dinner banquet hosted on the opening day by King Mohammed VI in honor of participants that included several world stars such as Claude Lelouch, Omar Sharif and Egyptian director Youssef Chahine.

Anouk Aim?e, Richard Anconina, Patrick Bruel, Emma de Caunes, Jamel Debbouze, Bernard Henri-Levy, Arielle Dombasle, Thierry Lhermitte, Fr?d?ric Mitterrand, Sembene Ousmane (Senegal) and Ferid Boughedir (Tunisia) were also among the artists and personalities attending the festival.

Films from Brazil, C?te d'Ivoire, France, Morocco, Spain, Taiwan and the United States were screened in the frame of the feature film competition. A whole day was devoted to Morocco with the screening of movies, with focus on woman in the Moroccan cinema, exhibitions, debates and testimonies.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan movie gets best film grand prize at Cologne Mediterranean cinema festival   (10/2/2001)
  Marrakesh cinema festival hailed as response to terrorism   (10/1/2001)
  Marrakesh international movie festival opens   (9/29/2001)

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