Marrakech, November 3, 2026 – The Europe Today: The Marrakech International Film Festival has announced its official selection of 76 films representing 39 countries for its 23rd edition, scheduled to take place from November 20 to 28, 2026.
According to media reports, the festival’s programme features a diverse selection of international cinema across several categories, including the Official Competition, Gala Screenings, Horizons, the 11th Continent, Moroccan Panorama, Young Audiences and Families, and Tributes.
The 23rd edition will present 14 first and second feature films in the Official Competition, competing for the prestigious Étoile d’Or award. Renowned French actress Marion Cotillard will preside over this year’s international jury.
The selection includes 10 world premieres, while 12 films have received support from the festival’s Atlas Workshops, an initiative dedicated to developing filmmaking talent and supporting the international film industry. Additionally, 11 selected films are their respective countries’ submissions for the Academy Awards.
The competition programme highlights diverse social, cultural and humanitarian themes. These include Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo’s Ben’imana, which explores the challenges of healing following the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda, and Abdallah Al-Khatib’s Chronicles from the Siege, depicting the daily struggles of people living amid war.
Other entries include House of the Wind, Congo Boy, Furies, Sad Girlz and The World Before, addressing themes ranging from migration and economic crises to friendship, identity and personal relationships.
The festival will open with The Debut, a comedy directed by Jesse Eisenberg and starring Julianne Moore. The Gala Screenings section will feature several highly anticipated productions, including two world premieres: Leila et la nuit, inspired by the life of Moroccan photographer Leila Alaoui, and His Weakest Creatures, featuring Egyptian actors Ahmed Helmy and Hend Sabry.
The Horizons section will bring together 21 films, including works by internationally acclaimed filmmakers such as Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Cristian Mungiu, Pawel Pawlikowski, Hirokazu Kore-eda and Nanni Moretti. The programme will also showcase Arab and African cinema through a variety of feature films and documentaries.
Meanwhile, the 11th Continent section will present 13 films exploring innovative cinematic approaches, including documentaries, contemporary productions and restored classics.
The Moroccan Panorama will feature six fiction and documentary films, including Tala Hadid’s Bardi and three world premieres, among them Mohamed Mouftakir’s Hoods. Overall, 11 Moroccan films will be represented across the festival’s various sections, alongside three additional productions filmed in Morocco.
The Young Audiences and Families section will complete the programme with 11 screenings, including Philippe Riche’s Girl in the Clouds and the world premiere of Mohcine Besri’s All But My Mother.
Screenings will take place at the Palais des Congrès, Cinéma Le Colisée and Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech from November 20 to 28.
The 23rd edition is expected to further strengthen Marrakech’s position as an important international platform for cinematic creativity, cultural exchange and the promotion of global filmmaking talent.
