The Marrakech Film Festival 2026 jury has been unveiled, and it brings together an impressive mix of actors, directors, and producers from across Europe and Africa. Led by Oscar-winning French star Marion Cotillard, the panel signals the festival’s continued ambition to spotlight emerging filmmakers while reinforcing Marrakech’s status as a major global cinema event.
For fans of TV and film culture, this year’s lineup is especially notable: from Sex Education breakout Emma Mackey to acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Haigh and internationally respected actor Claes Bang, the jury blends mainstream visibility with arthouse credibility.
Marrakech Film Festival 2026 Jury: Full Lineup
The newly announced Marrakech Film Festival 2026 jury includes eight cinema figures joining president Marion Cotillard to decide the winner of the festival’s top competition prize, the Étoile d’Or.
- Claes Bang
- Vicky Krieps
- Emma Mackey
- Gilles Lellouche
- Kaouther Ben Hania
- Andrew Haigh
- Ramata-Toulaye Sy
- Saïd Hamich Benlarbi
The competition focuses on first and second features, making the Marrakech Film Festival 2026 jury central to one of the most important missions in international film: discovering and elevating new voices.
Why This Jury Matters for Emerging Cinema
The festival’s main competition is designed to champion filmmakers at the start of their careers. In its 23rd edition, Marrakech continues to position itself as a platform for cinematic discovery, helping rising directors gain international attention and reach wider audiences.
That mission is reflected in the jury itself. The Marrakech Film Festival 2026 jury is not just star-powered; it is composed of artists known for distinct creative identities and cross-border storytelling.
A balance of acting prestige and directing vision
This year’s panel combines performers with major screen recognition and filmmakers who have built strong reputations on the festival circuit. That blend often leads to richer jury deliberations, especially in a competition focused on originality, craft, and bold storytelling.
According to the festival’s statement, the jury reflects contemporary cinema through both its geographic diversity and the different artistic approaches each member brings to the table.
Standout Names on the Marrakech Film Festival 2026 Jury
Claes Bang
Danish actor Claes Bang remains best known to many global audiences for The Square, Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or-winning film. He now joins the Marrakech Film Festival 2026 jury at a moment when his profile remains high, thanks to new dramatic work including I Is Another, in which he plays Heinrich Himmler’s masseur in a postwar intrigue story.
Emma Mackey
Emma Mackey has become one of the most closely watched young actors working today. After breaking out in Netflix’s Sex Education, she moved into major film roles in Death on the Nile and Barbie. Her upcoming appearance in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew adds another layer of mainstream anticipation to her growing career.
Vicky Krieps and Gilles Lellouche
Luxembourg actor Vicky Krieps earned international acclaim through Phantom Thread and later won major praise at Cannes for Corsage. Gilles Lellouche, meanwhile, brings both acting and directing experience, with credits including Little White Lies, The Stronghold, All Your Faces, Sink or Swim, and Beating Hearts.
The festival also noted that Lellouche will no longer take part in the previously announced talks program.
Filmmakers Bringing Global Perspective
A major strength of the Marrakech Film Festival 2026 jury is its inclusion of filmmakers whose work has resonated internationally while staying rooted in strong personal and regional identities.
Kaouther Ben Hania
The Tunisian director has earned wide respect for films that move fluidly between documentary and fiction. Her Oscar-nominated works, including Four Daughters and The Voice of Hind Rajab, have made her one of the most inventive voices in North African cinema.
Andrew Haigh
British filmmaker Andrew Haigh is known for emotionally precise work such as 45 and All of Us Strangers. With The Long Winter on the horizon, Haigh joins the jury as a director whose films frequently explore intimacy, memory, and emotional vulnerability with exceptional sensitivity.
Ramata-Toulaye Sy and Saïd Hamich Benlarbi
Franco-Senegalese filmmaker Ramata-Toulaye Sy drew major attention with Banel & Adama, a Cannes-premiering debut that blended romance, mythic energy, and visual poetry. Moroccan director-producer Saïd Hamich Benlarbi brings an especially relevant perspective, having already competed at Marrakech in 2024 with Across the Sea.
What the Jury Will Decide
The Marrakech Film Festival 2026 jury will select the winner of the Étoile d’Or, the top prize awarded to a film in the festival’s main competition. Because the section is reserved for first and second features, the award can significantly raise a filmmaker’s global profile.
Recent winners show how closely the festival is watched by the international film community:
- 2025: Promised Sky by Erige Sehiri
- 2024: Happy Holidays by Scandar Copti
- 2023: The Mother of All Lies by Asmae El Moudir
The 2026 festival runs from November 20 to November 28, with winners announced during the closing ceremony on the final night.
Why Marrakech Remains a Key Festival to Watch
The real significance of the Marrakech Film Festival 2026 jury lies in what it represents: a meeting point between established talent and future auteurs. From Morocco to France, Denmark, Tunisia, Senegal, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom, the jury reflects the international shape of modern cinema without losing sight of local stories and artistic individuality.
For viewers interested in film discovery, awards season momentum, and the next generation of directors, Marrakech remains one of the most exciting festivals on the calendar.
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Conclusion
The Marrakech Film Festival 2026 jury is one of the most thoughtfully assembled festival panels of the year, pairing global star appeal with serious artistic insight. With Marion Cotillard at the helm and jurors like Claes Bang, Emma Mackey, Andrew Haigh, and Kaouther Ben Hania in the mix, this year’s deliberations could help launch the next major voice in world cinema. For anyone tracking film festivals, auteur cinema, or breakout international talent, Marrakech deserves close attention this November.
