Eisenberg's 'The Debut' to Open Marrakech Film Festival

Fourteen first and second feature films will compete for the Étoile d’Or at the 23rd Marrakech International Film Festival.

Jury president Marion Cotillard will oversee the selection of the winning title.

The festival runs from November 20 to 28.

Jesse Eisenberg’s drama “The Debut” was chosen as the opening film for the out-of-competition gala.

Julianne Moore stars in the picture as a shy housewife who takes on a role in a community theater musical.

The character subsequently adopts the methods of a zealous Method actor.

Eisenberg and Moore are expected to attend the event in person.

Luca Guadagnino’s “Artificial” will make its regional premiere at the festival.

The film traces the rise of OpenAI founder Sam Altman, a role played by Andrew Garfield.

Guadagnino has attended the festival in previous years.

James Gray will also return to Marrakech with his crime thriller “Paper Tiger.”

Adam Driver and Miles Teller star in the project that will screen in the gala section of the program. Two world premieres are scheduled for the gala screenings. Brazilian director Fellipe Barbosa presents “Leila et la nuit.” Roschdy Zem and Marina Foïs star in the film. It is inspired by the life of Moroccan photographer Leila Alaoui. Egyptian director Omar Hilal will premiere “His Weakest Creatures.” Ahmed Helmy and Hend Sabry appear together on screen for the first time in that title. John Turturro will present Noah Segan’s “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York.” The actor portrays an aging pickpocket in that film. Laïla Marrakchi’s “Strawberries” is also included in the program. Morocco selected the film as its entry for the Academy Awards. It follows Moroccan seasonal laborers who pick strawberries in Spain. They stand up to their abusive employers in the narrative. The Horizons section features 21 films. The festival describes these works as demonstrating the vitality and diversity of world cinema. Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “All of a Sudden” will screen in that category. Cristian Mungiu’s “Fjord” is also included. Pawel Pawlikowski’s “Fatherland” and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Look Back” round out the list of top global auteurs. Nanni Moretti’s “It Happened One Night” will also be shown. Arab cinema is represented in the section with Egyptian director Mohammed Hammad’s “Safe Exit.” Sara Ishaq’s “The Station” is set in Yemen. Ahmed Hassouna directed the Gaza-set documentary “Citizen Osama.”