Bong Joon Ho Reflects on Film School Days as He Takes on Jury President Role in Marrakech with Jenna Ortega & Anya Taylor-Joy

Oscar-winning Korean director Bong Joon Ho reminisced about his days as a film student while taking on the role of jury president at the 22nd Marrakech Film Festival on Friday. Joining him on stage during the opening-night ceremony were jury members Celine Song, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jenna Ortega, Karim Anouz, Hakim Belabbes, Julia Ducournau, and Payman Maadi.

Over the following eight days, the jury will evaluate 14 debut and sophomore films competing for the festivals Golden Star Award. At the opening ceremony, Bong reflected on his early career. Twenty-two years old. What were you doing at that age? Or what are you planning to do when you turn 22? he asked. When I was 22, I was a cinema student consuming films eagerlythree or four a day. I wanted to create my own. Why was the camera positioned there? Why did the actor face that way? Why cut the scene at that moment?

He added, Those questions filled my days at 22. Looking back, I was full of energy and passion for cinema. Marrakech at 22 also has a vibrant energy. Bong also highlighted the festivals ties to Korea, noting that Korean films have twice won the main competition: Park Jung-bums The Journals of Musan in 2010 and Lee Su-jins Han Gong-ju in 2013, the latter awarded by a jury led by Martin Scorsese. Bong is the festivals first Asian jury president.

On the red carpet, festival director Mlita Toscan du Plantier shared that she had invited Bong to be jury president for several years. He is always busy, but if you ask a year in advance, he will commit. And he did. Thats very rare, she said. Toscan du Plantier noted that friends including Scorsese, Tilda Swinton, and Lee Su-jin encouraged him to attend.

During the opening ceremony, veteran Egyptian actor Hussein Fahmi received a career achievement award. Egyptian star Yousra delivered a tribute, celebrating Fahmis diverse roles and his dedication to cinema over five decades.

The Marrakech Film Festival is scheduled to run from November 28 to December 6.

Author: Sophia Brooks