Stars of Film and Cinema head to Marrakesh for Film Festival

From the 2nd December to the 10th, the Moroccan capital will host internationally acclaimed film directors, film stars, cast and crew, as the International Film Festival of Marrakesh pays tribute to the biggest names in film and cinema.

Last year, notable guests among the 94,000 in attendance included Martin Scorsese, Gemma Arterton and Monica Bellucci. This year the festival will pay tribute to the legendary French actress Isabelle Adjani, as well as celebrated director Paul Verhoeven, and Japanese film director Shinya Tsukamoto.

As well as celebrating the best in Arabic and African film and cinema, this year’s festival will also pay homage to Russian cinema, with a delegation of Russian artists on hand to presents this year’s cinematography awards.

The festivities will also see Marrakesh’s famed Jemaa El-Fnaa main square turned into a huge open air cinema.

The luxury 5-star Es Saadi Resort has partnered with Marrakesh’s International Film Festival since its debut in 2001. The stunning resort acts as the hub for festival attendee activity, providing space for meetings, press conferences, and interviews, as well as evenings of “elevated gastronomic Moroccan cuisine.”

Founded in 1966 (as a casino) by Jean Bauchet - who also developed Paris’ famed Moulin Rouge - Es Saadi Resort has experienced a storied history. With its fusion of authentic old-world luxury and Hollywood glamour, the hotel has attracted the likes of Princess Margaret, Leo DiCaprio, and The Rolling Stones.

Guests staying at the Moroccan palace can wander through the hotel's blooming gardens, before stumbling upon the elegant lagoon-style pools awash with ancient Roman columns, or relax at the Assyrian lounge, adorned with winged horses and Swarovski crystal-tipped red velvet sofas. The vast resort also offers an extensive spa, a plethora of fine restauranst and bars, as well as a night club and casino.

Fans of the BBC’s 2016 adaptation of John Le Carre's novel, The Night Manager, may recognise the iconic property as the grand hotel where Tom Hiddleston’s character manned the concierge’s desk, supposedly in Cairo, Egypt.