Marrakech Film Festival kicks off with tribute to Leonardo Di Caprio

Marrakech, The seventh Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM), kicked off on Friday with a tribute to Hollywood actor Leonardo Di Caprio,Leonardo Di Caprio was awarded the festival's top prize (the Golden Star) by veteran US movie director Martin Scorcese who has already shot three films with Di Caprio, in particular "Gangs of New York" (2002), "Aviator" (2004) and "The Departed" (2006). "I never failed to be amazed by his clear and complete commitment to his work," the director said. "The only thing I can say is since I was a young man I had always the ambition to be an actor," Di Caprio said, adding that he had never imagined he would one day have the chance to work with "a legend of the cinema like Martin Scorcese." The Festival will screen five films starred by Di Caprio: "Romeo and Juliet" (1996), "Titanic" (1997), “Catch me if you Can "(2003)," Aviator "(2005) and" The 11th Hour "(2008). The other Golden Star prize was awarded to Moroccan director Mustafa Derkaoui in recognition of his contribution to cinema in Morocco. In a message to the Festival, Prince Moulay Rachid, president of the FIFM foundation described the annual event as “a major driving force and a platform for the development of Moroccan cinema.” “Let the 7th edition celebrate films from the whole world, which will, with their uncertainties, convictions and hopes, broaden our perspective and help us build the future.”, Prince Moulay Rachid, younger brother of King Mohammed VI said. Some 110 films from 23 countries have been selected for this edition. The participating movies from Estonia, Algeria, Japan, Czech, Finland, Philippines, Russia, China, United States, Serbia, Mexico, South Korea and the Netherlands, in addition to Morocco, will compete for the FIFM prizes: Golden Star (FIFM Grand Prix), Jury prix, best actress and best actor. Czech director Milos Forman will lead the jury, which will include Hamid Benani (director, scenarist and producer), John Hurt (actor), Shekhar Kapur (director and actor), Pavel Lounguine (director, scenarist and producer), Aissa Maiga (actor), Claude Millier (director and scenarist), Parker Posey (actor) and Aitana Sanchez-Gijon (actress). The festival will pay special tribute to the Egyptian cinema, as some 90 Egyptian directors will attend this year’s festival edition, which coincides with the centenary of the Egyptian cinema, and 40 major Egyptian movies will be screened , including (hymn of hope), which was shot in the 30s starring Diva Oum Kaltoum, and "Imarat Yacoubian" "the Yacoubian building" featuring famous Egyptian actor Adel Imam. A special tribute will also be paid to three figures of world cinema: Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni, Tunisian producer Ahmed Baha Attia and Sweden director Ingmar Bergman through screening some of their masterpieces.