Academy Award-winning French actor Marion Cotillard has been appointed jury president for the 23rd edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival. In this role, Cotillard will lead the panel tasked with awarding the festival’s prestigious Étoile d’Or, selecting the winner from a global lineup of first and second feature films in the international competition.
The appointment marks a homecoming of sorts for Cotillard, who has been a frequent attendee of the festival since its inception. In a statement addressing her new role, she emphasized the festival’s commitment to emerging talent.
“I have been fortunate enough to attend the Marrakech International Film Festival since its very beginnings; I’ve had wonderful experiences there and met some truly remarkable people,” Cotillard said. “Supporting filmmakers as they take their first steps is a vital part of what this festival is all about—it’s in its DNA—and it is a great joy for me to chair the jury this year.”
Cotillard brings decades of international cinematic experience to the jury. After early breakthroughs in French cinema with Taxi and a César-winning performance in A Very Long Engagement, she achieved global acclaim for her portrayal of Édith Piaf in the 2007 biopic La Vie en Rose. The performance made history, earning her the Academy Award for Best Actress—the first time an actor won the award for a French-language role—alongside a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and a César. She earned a second Oscar nomination in 2015 for her role in Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne’s Two Days, One Night.
Throughout her career, the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres has navigated both European auteur cinema and Hollywood blockbusters, collaborating with directors such as Christopher Nolan (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises), Jacques Audiard (Rust and Bone), Steven Soderbergh (Contagion), and Leos Carax (Annette).
Cotillard remains highly active in both film and television. Following recent appearances in Little Girl Blue and Lee Miller opposite Kate Winslet, she is set to join the cast of Apple TV+’s The Morning Show for its fourth season in 2025. Her upcoming slate also includes roles in Lucile Hadžihalilović’s The Ice Tower, Guillaume Canet’s Karma, and Emmanuelle Bercot’s The Enraged.
As jury president in Marrakech, Cotillard’s focus will now shift to evaluating the debut and sophomore works of a new generation of international filmmakers looking to make their own mark on the industry.
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