Honorees will receive the festival’s Étoile d’or at the historic Jemaa el-Fna Square, Morocco.
Bollywood star Ranveer Singh will be felicitated at the 19th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival.
Along with Ranveer, Scottish actor Tilda Swinton, American filmmaker James Gray and Moroccan director Farida Benlyazid will also receive this honour, in keeping with the festival’s tradition of celebrating cinema in all its diversity.
In recognition of their “brilliant careers”, the quartet will receive the Etoile d’or (Golden Star) at the festival, scheduled to be held from November 11 to 19 in the Moroccan city.
The festival will honour Singh with the title which has been previously received by Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan.
Singh, who has starred in films such as Band Baaja Baaraat, Bajirao Mastani and Gully Boy in his decade-long career, said he is humbled and thrilled to be receiving the Etoile d’Or at the film gala.
“The notion that my craft has resonated in Africa is hugely gratifying! It’s indicative of the fact that my work has been able to transcend geographical and cultural borders. “For a humble artiste, who wishes to bring people together through entertainment, this is greatly rewarding. I cannot wait to be in Marrakech to soak in the love of the people and express my gratitude to them,” the actor said in a statement.
He will also participate in the ‘In Conversation With’ programme at the festival along with nine other major names from global cinema, including British actor Jeremy Irons, French actor and director Julie Delpy, Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, French filmmaker Julia Ducournau, American filmmaker and poet Jim Jarmusch, French actor Marina Fois, Swedish director Ruben Ostlund, French filmmaker Leos Carax, and Franco-Lebanese composer Gabriel Yared.
Singh will next be seen in Cirkus, which reunites him with his Simmba director Rohit Shetty.
Swinton added: “To be honoured by the Marrakech film festival for which I have such admiration and affection is truly touching. To return to celebrate with my friends this exceptional forum for world cinema and the perpetual global fellowship of film love with the beautiful audience there will be a pure joy for which I am deeply grateful.”
Gray stated: “The film is a deeply personal one and not only reflects certain aspects of my youth but also looks ahead and portrays the enduring issues and inequities facing the world today. Thank you for recognising these themes, most of them present in all my films, and for honouring me in this way.”
Benlyazid commented: “I thank His Majesty King Mohammed VI for creating this beautiful festival that brings together members of the Moroccan film family with those from around the world. I thank His Royal Highness Moulay Rachid – it is a great honour to receive this tribute, after having been a member of the jury for the first edition of the festival. And I thank all the organisers of the festival for inviting me every year. I particularly like this festival, which promotes the first and second works of filmmakers. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of seeing wonderful films, and the selection has always been excellent. It is with great emotion that I look forward to seeing you there.”
