![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G7VWSIBMFPKUV444SZBP7C2XDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=458ddb3d3492f891798dddf0063a88136ca81ad71259781782391b30839f149f&width=400&height=225)
Tarik Saleh on the red carpet. AP
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Director Melita Toscan Du Plantier, left, and actor Mads Mikkelsen, at the screening of Hit Man during the 20th Marrakech International Film Festival. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S2EQNSWAQKQQ2UEPPCI3CTFGFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=0b97244df103880d7c167976a3226f771918fffdf6bca6466658311b6499c54f&width=400&height=225)
Willem Dafoe, left, and filmmaker Giada Colagrande on the red carpet during the opening ceremony. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IVB2C6LLWUTKDJ6BJF3SQN7HTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=119652bda012be66f78f229f47fbc0d398f03ff595c15213e65b2d1ebfd4d415&width=400&height=225)
Actress Jessica Chastain on the red carpet. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KCIGSFAE3CTUZ33KMMQEAE6SLA.jpg?smart=true&auth=33e50388e82097ecc8569deadcc80661dd93606d6fca16c989b5181d4bc9c267&width=400&height=225)
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J73T56GG3SAK6DBGQ2V2F7PC64.jpg?smart=true&auth=bc0460a9d77e24f609160e79d48ad2d3d47ad48a35e4163afa02021aef74419e&width=400&height=225)
Actress Tilda Swinton on the red carpet. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SGKM4FDPLRATAYL2YK6GXGVK5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=fc3ee3f8aabae0aef7981cbf86f8a07e97914b2fad7a93b56dd224a6312d27a2&width=400&height=225)
Writer Leila Slimani. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ISXHI7ERQQFBA27OU33PVGNID4.jpg?smart=true&auth=58a0dca8f018cc006b25f1c669e613736a6aa1b3a6ba8f6b907cd19127917d3a&width=400&height=225)
Dafoe and Mikkelsen, who received a lifetime achievement award. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TCGGYAB22FUUUKJ3GXX2YOC57I.jpg?smart=true&auth=afa03701608477c0839cfdf5a35ab263d9c53c149f14975ae51c9fc338226fbd&width=400&height=225)
From left, Camille Cottin, Dee Rees, Dafoe, Joel Edgerton, Mikkelsen with his career achievement award, Chastain, Slimani, Joanna Hogg, Tarik Saleh, Zar Amir Ebrahim, and Alexander Skarsgard on stage during the opening ceremony. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HFQI2DSOUOMF7WS7GNNQURCJHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=379eeac6a3660c1aa9d7414b670ddf3692be372813ab6f6628e41f04ff0fde78&width=400&height=225)
Chastain takes to the stage. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GJE475TGADL54NGZ5TT2WY7QYU.jpg?smart=true&auth=7ab3087b89453059ea1330492498adb296dd651d35e587adecbcd7b105e9bf01&width=400&height=225)
Actress Aouatefe Lahmani on the red carpet. EPA
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Actress Fatima Ezzahra El Jaouhari. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G7VWSIBMFPKUV444SZBP7C2XDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=458ddb3d3492f891798dddf0063a88136ca81ad71259781782391b30839f149f&width=400&height=225)
Tarik Saleh on the red carpet. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z2HUR2LBN4PPWL6CKWO34HPYGY.jpg?smart=true&auth=fa3702a4be551d3dfdde10200ef1bcf58684008f70e0993fb3d08de0fb997dd9&width=400&height=225)
Director Melita Toscan Du Plantier, left, and actor Mads Mikkelsen, at the screening of Hit Man during the 20th Marrakech International Film Festival. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S2EQNSWAQKQQ2UEPPCI3CTFGFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=0b97244df103880d7c167976a3226f771918fffdf6bca6466658311b6499c54f&width=400&height=225)
Willem Dafoe, left, and filmmaker Giada Colagrande on the red carpet during the opening ceremony. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IVB2C6LLWUTKDJ6BJF3SQN7HTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=119652bda012be66f78f229f47fbc0d398f03ff595c15213e65b2d1ebfd4d415&width=400&height=225)
Actress Jessica Chastain on the red carpet. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KCIGSFAE3CTUZ33KMMQEAE6SLA.jpg?smart=true&auth=33e50388e82097ecc8569deadcc80661dd93606d6fca16c989b5181d4bc9c267&width=400&height=225)
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J73T56GG3SAK6DBGQ2V2F7PC64.jpg?smart=true&auth=bc0460a9d77e24f609160e79d48ad2d3d47ad48a35e4163afa02021aef74419e&width=400&height=225)
Actress Tilda Swinton on the red carpet. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SGKM4FDPLRATAYL2YK6GXGVK5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=fc3ee3f8aabae0aef7981cbf86f8a07e97914b2fad7a93b56dd224a6312d27a2&width=400&height=225)
Writer Leila Slimani. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ISXHI7ERQQFBA27OU33PVGNID4.jpg?smart=true&auth=58a0dca8f018cc006b25f1c669e613736a6aa1b3a6ba8f6b907cd19127917d3a&width=400&height=225)
Dafoe and Mikkelsen, who received a lifetime achievement award. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TCGGYAB22FUUUKJ3GXX2YOC57I.jpg?smart=true&auth=afa03701608477c0839cfdf5a35ab263d9c53c149f14975ae51c9fc338226fbd&width=400&height=225)
From left, Camille Cottin, Dee Rees, Dafoe, Joel Edgerton, Mikkelsen with his career achievement award, Chastain, Slimani, Joanna Hogg, Tarik Saleh, Zar Amir Ebrahim, and Alexander Skarsgard on stage during the opening ceremony. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HFQI2DSOUOMF7WS7GNNQURCJHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=379eeac6a3660c1aa9d7414b670ddf3692be372813ab6f6628e41f04ff0fde78&width=400&height=225)
Chastain takes to the stage. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GJE475TGADL54NGZ5TT2WY7QYU.jpg?smart=true&auth=7ab3087b89453059ea1330492498adb296dd651d35e587adecbcd7b105e9bf01&width=400&height=225)
Actress Aouatefe Lahmani on the red carpet. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TA5FAQUNPSXY2T3HASM6R7EFEA.jpg?smart=true&auth=f781be9528bbab8ec09eebe3ac8d6aaffae1d4bf8b58c8e8346e447222eb6cde&width=400&height=225)
Actress Fatima Ezzahra El Jaouhari. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G7VWSIBMFPKUV444SZBP7C2XDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=458ddb3d3492f891798dddf0063a88136ca81ad71259781782391b30839f149f&width=400&height=225)
Tarik Saleh on the red carpet. AP
Martin Scorsese cancels appearance at Marrakech Film Festival
Oscar winner pulls out due to personal reasons hours after star-studded opening ceremony, reports say
![Evelyn Lau](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F326930c8-426e-4292-8915-488062faf4ec.png?smart=true&auth=bf65363a4ec5524d4fde02fe884073b2948f09e3aaac804a1077fa41b77f1ecb&width=70&height=70)
Evelyn Lau
25 November, 2023
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