The International Film Festival of Marrakech

The name Marrakech conjures up images of noisy bazaars, colourful souks and exotic spices. Yet, it is so much more than the stereotyped image in films. It’s the fourth largest city in Morocco, in northwest Africa. Though an ancient city (established in 1062), it is today an important economic and cultural centre of Morocco. The city hosts the annual International Film Festival of Marrakech – a festival that showcases and awards the best of Moroccan films as well as foreign feature films. This year, the festival will be held between November 30 and December 8.

The beauty, culture and history of Marrakech will fascinate many a traveller

The Cannes of Africa

The festival was started in 2001 and is chaired by Morocco’s Prince Moulay Rachid. Over the years, it has consistently attracted quality films, both from Morocco as well as from other countries. The festival awards an Etoile d’Or (Golden Star) to the best film of the year. Other awards include the Jury Prize, the Cinecoles Short Film Prize and Best Performances – male and female. In 2012, the Lebanese film The Attack, directed by Ziad Doueiri, won the Golden Star. The Jury Prize was shared by A Hijacking (Denmark) and Taboor (Iran). The Best Female Performance went to Elina Reinold for the Estonian film Mushrooming and Soren Malling bagged the Best Male Performance award for A Hijacking.

Amitabh Bachchan at the International Film Festival of Marrakech. Photo Credit: Bollywood Hungama / wikimedia

Bollywood Flavour

Last year marked the beginning of the centenary year of Indian Cinema and the International Film Festival of Marrakech paid a tribute to Bollywood by screening several Hindi films. An Indian film delegation was also honoured as part of the festival. The delegation was presided over by veteran Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan and included other Bollywood giants such as Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Karan Johar and Ashutosh Gowariker, to name a few. The festival also paid a tribute to the legendary Yash Chopra and several of his films were screened during the fest.

Moroccan Delights

Marrakech has several places of tourist and historical interest. The Jemaa el-Fnaa at the city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most famous squares in Africa. It is a thriving bazaar, with a mosque, palace and garden nearby. The souks of Marrakech are another attraction, overflowing with stalls selling everything from carpets to pottery and spices to leather goods. The city is home to several majestic gardens, including the Menara Gardens, the Majorelle Garden and the royal orchards of Agdal Gardens. The Badi Palace, the Royal Palace and the Bahia Palace are also worth a visit.

Jemaa el-Fnaa is Morocco's most famous square and attracts hoards of travellers everyday

Getting There

Several airlines operate flights from various Indian cities to Marrakech. There is no dearth of hotels to stay at, since the city is a major tourist destination. Luxurious hotels to budget stays – there is room for everyone. The many flavours of Morocco can be enjoyed in Marrakech; street stalls at the Jemaa el-Fnaa offer tajine, couscous, and a variety of soups and teas. Plan your trip with MakeMyTrip and head to Marrakech for the film festival.