A celebrated figure from the cinematic world is preparing to step into the spotlight, bringing a unique blend of creativity and expertise to the forefront.
Marrakech – Danish Oscar-winning director Thomas Vinterberg is set to lead the jury for the 21st edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival, which will take place from November 29 to December 7, 2024.
His esteemed jury will award the coveted Étoile d’Or award to one of the 14 first and second feature films competing in the international section, which is dedicated to discovering filmmakers from around the globe, according to a press release.
“Presiding over the jury of the Marrakech International Film Festival is an immense privilege and honor,” Vinterberg shared in the statement.
“In a constantly changing world, increasingly divided, festivals like Marrakech provide a precious window into a vast array of cultures,” he said. The director continued, “Films have the power to describe the inexplicable and help us understand the unacceptable. Right now, there’s so much we need to comprehend.”
Born on May 19, 1969, interberg is a Danish director based in Copenhagen. Since bursting onto the global cinema scene with Festen in 1998, earning him the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival at just 28, Vinterberg has become one of the most celebrated European filmmakers of our time.
Known for his bold storytelling that fearlessly explores the darker sides of humanity, he continues to reinvent himself and surprise audiences with each new film.
The director has made history as the first Danish filmmaker nominated for an Oscar for Best Director for his acclaimed film “Drunk” (2020), winning an Oscar, a BAFTA, a César, and four European Film Awards for this hit drama. The film premiered in Cannes and was showcased at Toronto and San Sebastián festivals.
Vinterberg studied at the National Film School of Denmark, and his graduation film, Last Round (1993), earned numerous accolades, including a nomination for the Student Academy Awards. His short film; “The Boy Who Walked” (1995) won multiple audience awards, notably at the Clermont-Ferrand Festival, leading to his feature debut, “The Heroes” (1996).
In 1995, Vinterberg co-authored the Dogme 95 manifesto with Lars von Trier. His 1998 film Festen, the first to emerge from this movement, garnered the Cannes Jury Prize and various international awards, including the Fassbinder Prize at the European Film Awards.
Vinterberg directed two critically acclaimed English-language films, “It’s All About Love” (2003) and “Dear Wendy” (2005), before returning to Danish films with “When a Man Comes Home” (2007) and “Submarino” (2010). The latter was selected for the Berlinale and awarded the Nordic Council’s Film Award.
In 2012, he directed “La Chasse,’ which earned Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Foreign Language Film and won Mads Mikkelsen the Best Actor award at Cannes. Vinterberg’s later works include “Far from the Madding Crowd” (2015) and “La Communauté” (2016), which won a European Film Award.
Vinterberg has also directed critically acclaimed theater productions at the Burgtheater in Vienna and music videos for bands like Blur and Metallica.
