18/09/2002

The second edition of FIFM – the International Film Festival of Marrakesh - is scheduled to open today, 18 September, and will run until 22 September. A galaxy of French stars that includes Emmanuelle Béart, Carole Bouquet, Johnny Hallyday, oltre a Anouk Aimée, Patrice Chéreau, Costa-Gravas, Benoît Jacquot, Patrice Leconte, Michel Blanc, Jamel Debbouze and Belgian actor Benoît Poelvoorde will participate. It is the organisers’ sincere hope that this edition will serve to launch the festival as north-Africa’s answer to Cannes; last year, the festival was put on hold after the tragic events of 9/11. Daniel Toscan du Plantier, is the President of the festival and the actress Jeanne Moreau in charge of the jury that will choose the best film of the ten features selected. The titles includes Les Diables by Frenchman Christophe Ruggia and the U.K.’s Gurinder Chadha with Bend it like Beckham. Last year’s Grand Prix winner was Franco-Algerian director Yamina Benguigui with her directorial debut, Inch’Allah Dimanche.
The programme also includes two conferences on “Power and the responsibilities of cinema” and “French Cinema: Creation and Industry”, moderated by Gaumont president, .

(Translated from French)