by Helen Barlow
The tribute actually happens at the end of next week, when Australian heavy hitters including Gillian Armstrong, Jack Thompson, Jan Chapman and Simon Baker will make their presence felt.
Fittingly, Naomi Watts declared the festival open. “I’m delighted that the festivalgoers here in Marrakech have the opportunity to discover the extraordinary breadth and diversity of Australian filmmaking,” she told the crowd.
Standing alongside jury head Tilda Swinton and jury member Andrea Arnold it was a very pink affair. Swinton not only wore a pink suit but sported bright pink hair and the festival went all out to have a pink stage. Swinton admitted it was her first time in Marrakech and vowed to give the competition her all. David Michôd, director of The King and Animal Kingdom, is the jury’s Australian representative, while Shannon Murphy’s Venice hit Babyteeth is one of the films competing.
More to come…
The Marrakech International Film Festival will be held from November 29 to December 7, 2019
