International Film Festival of Marrakech: Martin Scorsese, Guest of the 20th Edition and Patron of Atlas Workshops

Renowned American filmmaker Martin Scorsese, a familiar face at the Marrakech International Film Festival (MIFF), will once again grace the event as a guest during its 20th anniversary celebration. In a special role, Scorsese will serve as the patron of the upcoming edition of the Atlas Workshops, MIFF's program dedicated to nurturing regional talents.

Martin Scorsese, a legendary figure in American cinema, is set to be a prominent guest at the 20th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival (MIFF), scheduled to take place from November 24th to December 2nd, 2023. But that's not all; the filmmaker has also embraced the role of patron for the 6th installment of the Atlas Workshops, MIFF's industry program aimed at fostering talents from the region.
"I am always thrilled to return to the Marrakech Festival, a place that holds a special place in my heart. Even when I am not there in person, I am there in spirit. For this very special anniversary edition of the Festival, I have been entrusted with a precious mission: to engage with young filmmakers and provide guidance on their path. I look forward to reconnecting with old friends and making new ones," Scorsese stated, as quoted in a press release from the MIFF Foundation.
With this, Martin Scorsese inaugurates a new tradition at the Festival, where each edition of the Atlas Workshops will be sponsored by an esteemed name from the global film industry, and consequently, the program will bear their name. In a logical sequence, the 2023 batch of the Atlas Workshops will be christened the "Martin Scorsese Promotion."
Initiated in 2018, the Atlas Workshops (scheduled this year from November 27th to 30th) have been instrumental in nurturing a new generation of Moroccan, Arab, and African filmmakers, fostering a platform for exchange between international professionals and regional talents.
Over the editions, the program has supported 111 projects and films, including 48 Moroccan projects and films. In recent years, several films backed by the Atlas Workshops have been selected and awarded at international festivals.
For instance, four films supported by the workshops were showcased in various sections at the recent Cannes Film Festival. These included "The Mother of All Lies" by Asmae El Moudir (Un Certain Regard - Best Director Prize, Golden Eye for Best Documentary), "Les Meutes" by Kamal Lazraq (Un Certain Regard - Jury Prize), "Inshallah a Boy" by Amjad Al Rasheed (Critics' Week - Gan Foundation Distribution Prize), and "Déserts" by Faouzi Bensaïdi (Directors' Fortnight).