Charlotte Rampling to chair jury of Marrakesh International Cinema Festival

British actress Charlotte Rampling will chair the jury of Marrakesh first international cinema festival, slated for September 28 through October 2.

The other jury members include actors Rosanna Arquette, Elsa Zylberstein, Matt Dillon, John Malkovich, film director Sembene Ousmane, fashion Jean-Paul Gaultier, painter Farid Belkahia, Nouvel Observateur weekly director Jean Daniel and novelist Mohamed Berrada.

The jury for the short movie will be chaired by actress Marie-Christine Barrault and will include Aure Atika, emma Caunes and film director Ferid Boughedir.

Held under the aegis of King Mohammed VI, the festival features some fifty movies, most of them to be screened for the first time and for free.

"Silence. on Tourne" by Egyptian movie maker Youssef Chahine will be screened at the opening of the festival while "Tosca" by French Benoit Jacquot will close the festival.

The festival will pay tribute to French and British film directors, Claude Lelouch and John boorman, and to Egyptian actor Omar Cherif.

French actress Sophie Marceau who was initially due to chair the festival will not be able to remain in Marrakesh for all the duration of the event, because of here professional schedule.

The festival program features three chapters: films in official competition (about ten international movies), films of the world, screening movies from all over the world and especially from India, the Middle East, the Maghreb and Africa, and discovery films that explore new ways in the cinema.

The festival, that also features forums, debates and colloquies, will award a Grand Prize, a jury's special prize, and prizes for the best actress and actor.