Against all odds, Marrakech Film Fest opened with a testament to art.
Two months after a devastating earthquake, and in light of the ever-more heart wrenching news coming out of the Middle East, the film showcase kicked off with humanist rallying cry voiced by jury president Jessica Chastain.
Celebrating its 20th edition, the Moroccan event held its first volley shortly after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Festival organizers felt it all the more imperative to celebrate art and international communion.
Upon taking the stage on Friday, Chastain echoed those overarching sentiments.
“Cinema can break down barriers and start important conversations about difficult topics,” said Chastain. “We can sublimate pain and suffering and give rise to a consciousness of healing and unification, to create a deeper protection for all.”
“The power of a little nudge can go a long way,” Chastain added.
With festivities officially launched, and just before the festival’s opening night of Richard Linklater’s Hit Man, Willem Dafoe introduced this year’s career achievement honoree Mads Mikkelsen.
Dafoe touted the Danish star for his ambidextrous filmography, equally versed in European auteur fare like Thomas Vinterberg’s “Another Round” and Nikolaj Arcel’s recent “The Promised Land” as well as big ticket franchise outings with “Doctor Strange,” “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” and the “Fantastic Beasts” series.
Dafoe praised Mikkelsen for his “humility and generosity,” speaking about a single scene they shared – shot over the course of single day – in Julian Schnabel’s Vincent Van Gogh biopic “At Eternity’s Gate.”
Claiming his honor before crowd filled with celebs like Isabelle Huppert, Tilda Swinton and Venice director Alberto Barbera, Mikkelsen returned the kind words, reflecting on formative experience seeing Dafoe perform onstage.
He extended similar reverence to 2018 Marrakech honoree De Niro and to festival patron Scorsese – whom Mikkelsen had met for the first time at this very festival.
“Marrakech has given me the chance to meet my heroes and to share a stage with them. But I am all the more grateful to now be in the same book.”
