As I sit here, surrounded by the enchanting sights and sounds of Marrakech, I can’t help but marvel at the extraordinary journey that Toscan du Plantier has embarked upon. Her life has been a testament to the power of cinema as a unifying force, transcending borders, cultures, and even geopolitical tensions.
This year’s Marrakech Film Festival, which is in its 21st year, has garnered unprecedented attention with Jacob Elordi’s new bearded appearance and Sean Penn’s red carpet debut alongside girlfriend Valeria Nicov. In the mainstream media, it seems like this festival is creating headlines more than ever before.
For more than two decades, the Marrakech Film Festival has played a crucial part in nurturing upcoming filmmakers from the Arab world, particularly those from Morocco. This mission was driven by the ambitious vision of Melita Toscan du Plantier, a Paris-based producer, film enthusiast, and straightforward individual who serves as the festival’s director. The Marrakech Film Festival began in 2001, when Melita’s late husband, Daniel Toscan du Plantier, an influential French producer, was asked by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI to assist in establishing the film festival. A year later, HRH Prince Moulay Rachid assumed the presidency of the festival and its foundation. When Daniel Toscan du Plantier passed away unexpectedly in 2003, Melita took charge.
Today, Melita Toscan du Plantier, who is deeply immersed in Marrakech Film Festival year-round, has effectively transformed the event into a substantial international film festival from just another red carpet affair in a highly competitive field. By leveraging her extensive network of connections, she’s been able to attract some of the world’s most renowned filmmakers and talents – including Martin Scorsese, Robert de Niro, and Agnes Varda – to showcase up-and-coming Arab directors and bring attention to their work.
This year, Toscan du Plantier achieved the greatest professional success of her career at the Marrakech festival by securing Luca Guadagnino as president of a jury that includes Jacob Elordi, Andrew Garfield, Patricia Arquette, and Ali Abbasi, among others. The list of masterclasses is equally impressive, featuring Justin Kurzel (who opened the festival with his film “The Order”), David Cronenberg, Sean Penn, Justine Triet, Tim Burton, Alfonso Cuaron, Todd Haynes, and Walter Salles, among many others.
During the second day of the festival, Toscan du Plantier remarked that she feels as if she’s planning this event like a parent would a child’s wedding. I believe this statement accurately captures her dedication.
About a week ago, during an interview held at her office in Paris, adorned by her staff for her birthday, Toscan du Plantier expressed that the festival’s focus on mentorship has resulted in significant achievements for upcoming filmmakers. She pointed out Ismae El Moudir, whose movie “The Mother Of All Lies” made history last year as the first Moroccan film to win the festival’s premier award, the Étoile D’Or, under Jessica Chastain’s leadership as jury president. “The Mother of All Lies,” initially screened at Un Certain Regard in Cannes, subsequently represented Morocco in the international feature category at the Oscars. Furthermore, she mentioned Ismael Alaoui and his film “Animalia,” screened at Sundance, as well as Maryam Touzani (“Adam,” “The Blue Caftan”), Yasmine Benkiran (“Reines”), Meryem Benm’barek (“Sophia”), Alaa Eddine Aljem (“Le miracle du saint Inconnu”), Ismaël El Iraki (Zanka Contact), Kamal Lazraq (Les Meutes) and Saïd Hamich, whose film “La mer au loin” is competing this year.
Toscan du Plantier noted that a fresh wave of talents is gaining recognition on global film stages, with most of these emerging artists being women – an unprecedented move for Moroccan cinema, which has seldom seen such a high number of female directors. For example, El Moudir’s movie was identified by the Sydney Film Festival director during the Atlas Workshops in Marrakech, before it screened at Cannes, and was subsequently included in their festival lineup in Sydney, where it bagged the award for best film.
In our inaugural year with my spouse, we initiated the festival showcasing merely four Moroccan films annually. Fast forward to today, that number has swelled to approximately 35! It’s a testament to the significant growth of Moroccan cinema over time, a growth that the Marrakech Festival proudly underscores.
The festival has played a role in sparking a preference among Marrakech viewers for independent films rarely seen in Morocco, as only major films from America, Egypt, or Bollywood typically grace local theater screens, according to Toscan du Plantier.
The festival presents movies hailing from various countries such as Japan, Korea, Poland, Brazil, and more. Notably, many of these films carry a social message. She mentioned that she appreciates the prospect of giving those who seldom or never travel an opportunity to experience different parts of the world through these cinematic presentations.
Speaking about the rapidly growing sector at the festival, Atlas Workshops, supervised by its artistic director Remi Bonhomme, Toscan du Plantier stated that it has evolved into a “prominent stage” for an emerging group of Moroccan filmmakers and producers who are making significant progress.
Together, she and Bonhomme make up a vibrant pair, surrounded by a diverse team of relatively young individuals hailing from various global locations. In our workplace, we have representatives from Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, and many other regions, all joining us to collaborate on the creative aspects of our endeavor. As the festival director, I find this multicultural exchange appealing, particularly since I began my professional journey at Unifrance, a French cultural promotion organization, where I crossed paths with my husband Daniel, who was then its president at the time.
This year, I feel a profound sense of pride within myself, knowing that the caliber of skill I showcased in Marrakech was truly monumental. It wasn’t just about personal accomplishment, but rather the culmination of an endless journey of dedication and hard work. However, what resonates most deeply is the aspect of mentorship. Filmmakers who exhibit their movies here understand that their work will be witnessed by talents and filmmakers they highly regard, making this platform a unique opportunity for mutual growth and inspiration.
Film students from Morocco also “have the opportunity to share thoughts with some of the world’s most renowned directors, an encounter that they may not have had otherwise, if not for the Marrakech Festival,” she stated.
At renowned film festivals like Cannes and Venice, masterclasses are typically exclusive and not accessible to the general public. However, at Marrakech, attendance is free for those who register online. The audience comprises film students, locals, media personnel from various national and international platforms, as well as industry talent. She fondly recalled, “One year we had Robert de Niro, with Guillermo del Toro, Tahar Rahim, Julian Schnabel, and Gilles Lellouche all in attendance!
She mentioned that it was her late spouse who served as her guide and sparked her interest in directing, as she put it. It’s no surprise that Guadagnino, during his opening ceremony speech at the festival, referred to her as the “matriarch of filmmakers.
She mentioned that she has many friends who are international actors, but her true enthusiasm lies with directors. She believes they can sense her genuine passion. Instead of just socializing, she would rather have a prolonged conversation over dinner with Martin Scorsese, Alfonso Cuaron, Walter Salles, or Justin Kurzel, discussing films until the wee hours of the night, than engage in anything else.
On Saturday evening, Penn was honored for the first time in many years. In the upcoming festival, he’ll offer a seldom-given masterclass. “He’s quite reserved and modest, choosing to discuss humanitarian issues close to his heart, such as those in Haiti and Ukraine, instead of focusing on himself.
What attracted Penn, Todd Haynes, and others were the opportunities for mentorship and interaction with youthful film enthusiasts and learners,” she explained. “Sean particularly desired to connect with young individuals, and he was excited to meet Ismae El Moudir due to his admiration for her film ‘The Mother of All Lies’ and her notable talent,” she added. Similarly, Todd expressed immediate interest in engaging with young students.
At many festivals, attendees might arrive feeling somewhat fatigued, but that’s not the case here. Moroccans understand that listening to esteemed directors share their insights about their work and their perspectives on life is a precious privilege. These artists come here willingly, as they consider it giving back. This generosity is remarkable since they aren’t compensated for their efforts, Toscan du Plantier pointed out. This year, she managed to secure Garfield through Guadagnino, as the two collaborated on the thriller “After The Hunt.” Elordi was subsequently attracted after meeting in Australia during the filming of “The Narrow Road to the Deep North,” a miniseries directed by Kurzel, a longtime associate of Toscan du Plantier. Del Toro, another festival ally who recently directed Elordi in “Frankenstein,” also played a role in tempting the actor.
Toscan du Plantier explained that she shares messages from individuals who have visited before, including our ‘godfather’ Martin Scorsese, who has been here a total of seven times. On occasion, he assists me in reaching out to people or expresses support for the Marrakech Festival. This is also true for Guillermo Del Toro, Justin Kurzel, and Luca Guadagnino.
Fundamentally, this festival has been instrumental in uniting people during periods of global political tension, with its history tracing back to its first event held post-the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Morocco is a place of exchange, a warm and inviting land. In 2001, when we initiated the festival following the terrorist attacks, it was heartening to witness such diversity – various nationalities, numerous religions – all gathered on Muslim ground, just fifteen days after the attacks that were attributed to extremists,” she remarked. “At that time, His Majesty the King, Mohamed VI made a bold decision to keep the festival going amidst adversity, and welcome everyone who dared to attend, as many people were still apprehensive about traveling by air.
In essence, “individuals hailing from various parts of the globe gathered to discuss culture and movies, and I can’t help but describe the ambiance as truly enchanting,” she expressed.
The previous year saw a unique occurrence, taking place approximately a month after the October 7th massacre, amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
During a time when conversations centered around division, we found ourselves discussing unity at the festival, fostering connections among people through cinema,” she stated. “It was a complex situation, yet it carried a strong impact.” She also commended HRH Prince Moulay Rachid for his active participation and backing of the event.
Despite facing challenges this year, such as ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, the festival successfully attracted attendees from around the world.
She notes that we’ve gathered representatives from all five continents here – Asia, Oceania, America, Europe, and Africa. It’s truly marvelous to witness such a diverse group of global figures in Marrakech!
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2024-12-01 21:47