Marrakech, December 7, 2025 – The Europe Today: The 22nd Marrakech International Film Festival concluded on Saturday night with a vibrant closing ceremony at the Congress Palace, where the Franco-Tunisian film “Promised Sky” by director Erige Sehiri was announced as the winner of the prestigious Golden Star Grand Prize.
The event brought together global cinema icons, cultural leaders, and media representatives, marking the end of nine days dedicated to international filmmaking.
Golden Star Grand Prize: “Promised Sky”
The jury, chaired by renowned Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho, chose “Promised Sky” from 13 competing feature films for its poetic strength and bold artistic vision that challenges conventional perspectives.
Supported by the festival’s Atlas Workshops, the 93-minute film explores themes of displacement, solidarity, and resilience through the intersecting lives of three women in modern Tunisia.
The story follows Marie, an Ivorian pastor and former journalist living in Tunis, who opens her home to Naney, a young mother seeking opportunity, and Jolie, a determined student carrying her family’s aspirations. Their fragile harmony is tested when they rescue Kenza, a four-year-old survivor of a tragic shipwreck, forming an emotionally complex family amid rising social tension.
Director Erige Sehiri, known for her documentary “La Voie normale” and her Cannes Directors’ Fortnight feature “Sous les figues,” has also contributed significantly to media and feminist filmmaking initiatives across the Arab world. The film, shot in French and Arabic, stars Aïssa Maïga, Laetitia Ky, Debora Lobe Nanay, Mohamed Grayaa, and Foued Zaazaa.
Jury Prize: Shared Honors for “Memory” and “My Father and Qaddafi”
The Jury Prize was jointly awarded to Vladlena Sandu’s “Memory” and Jihan K’s “My Father and Qaddafi” for their powerful treatment of historical trauma and collective memory.
“Memory” is a 98-minute hybrid autobiographical film tracing Sandu’s childhood journey from Crimea to Grozny during the Chechen conflict, portraying the emotional and psychological scars of war. The film premiered at Venice’s Giornate degli Autori and reflects on generational cycles of violence.
“My Father and Qaddafi” chronicles director Jihan K’s quest to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of Libyan opposition leader Mansur Rashid Kikhia, her father. Through archival research and personal interviews, the 88-minute film reconstructs a painful family history tied to Libya’s political past.
Technical and Performance Awards
Oscar Hudson won the Best Directing Prize for his debut feature “Straight Circle,” a UK co-production exploring psychological breakdown and shifting allegiances between two enemy soldiers isolated in a desert frontier. Hudson, celebrated for his award-winning work in music videos and short films, brings a unique visual style rooted in his background in anthropology and alternative cinema.
Debora Lobe Nanay received the Best Female Performance award for “Promised Sky,” while Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù earned the Best Male Performance award for his role in Akinola Davies Jr.’s “My Father’s Shadow.”
The festival’s conclusion reaffirmed Marrakech’s status as a premier global platform celebrating diverse cinematic voices and bold storytelling.
