Rabat, November 19 th , 2025. The Marrakech International Film Festival announces the members of the jury for its 22 nd edition, which takes place from November 28 th to December 6 th , 2025.
The Marrakech International Film Festival announces the members of the jury for its 22nd edition, which takes place from November 28th to December 6th, 2025.
Composed of eight leading figures from four continents and spanning multiple generations, the festival jury is tasked with considering the 14 first and second feature films presented in an Official Competition dedicated to discovering new international talent.
South Korean director Bong Joon Ho, whose film Parasite made history by winning the Palme d’Or followed by four Academy Awards, chairs the jury. Praised for its formal inventiveness and critical scope, Bong’s work has profoundly renewed the dialogue between auteur cinema and mainstream cinema.
He will be joined by filmmakers and performers who reflect the vitality of global cinema today:
- Karim Aïnouz (Brazil) – director of The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão
- Hakim Belabbes (Morocco) – a key figure in intimate, memory-based cinema
- Julia Ducournau (France) – Palme d’Or winner for Titane
- Payman Maadi (Iran) – award-winning actor from A Separation
- Jenna Ortega (USA) – star of Wednesday and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
- Celine Song (Canada) – director of Past Lives
- Anya Taylor-Joy (UK/Argentina) – globally recognized for The Queen’s Gambit and Furiosa
By bringing together artists from diverse creative backgrounds, the Marrakech International Film Festival reaffirms its commitment to promoting the circulation of ideas, cinematic aesthetics, and cross-cultural dialogue.
The award winners will be announced at the closing ceremony on Saturday, December 6th, 2025.
BIOGRAPHIES
Bong Joon Ho (South Korea)
Known for his incisive social critique and genre-bending films, Bong Joon Ho has consistently examined societal inequalities with humor, emotion, and suspense. His eight feature films include:
Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000), Memories of Murder (2003), The Host (2006), Mother (2009), Snowpiercer (2013), Okja (2017), Parasite (2019), and Mickey 17.
Karim Aïnouz (Brazil, Algeria)
A celebrated director, screenwriter, and visual artist known for bold visual language and political resonance. His key works include Madame Satã, Mariner of the Mountains, Nardjes A., and The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão (winner of Un Certain Regard).
Hakim Belabbes (Morocco)
A Moroccan filmmaker exploring memory, exile, and love through films such as Threads, Boiling Dreams, and Sweat Rain. He founded the Sahara Lab and serves as Director of ISMAC in Rabat.
Julia Ducournau (France)
Gained recognition with Junior (2011). Her films Raw (2016) and Titane (2021), which won the Palme d’Or, earned international acclaim. Her third feature, Alpha, premiered in 2025.
Payman Maadi (Iran)
Award-winning actor and filmmaker known for About Elly and A Separation, for which he won the Silver Bear. His international credits include The Night Of, Westworld, 13 Hours, and 6 Underground.
Jenna Ortega (United States)
Star of Tim Burton’s Wednesday, earning Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG nominations. Featured in Scream, X, The Fallout, and will appear in Taika Waititi’s Klara and the Sun.
Celine Song (Canada)
Academy Award-nominated director of Past Lives. Her second feature, Materialists, stars Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal. She has also written for The Wheel of Time.
Anya Taylor-Joy (United Kingdom, Argentina)
Rose to fame with The Witch and global recognition in The Queen’s Gambit. Starred in Furiosa, The Menu, The Northman, Split, and Super Mario Bros: The Movie. Upcoming projects include Dune: Part Three.
For more information: www.marrakech-festival.com