Atom Egoyan to host Canadian film homage at Marrakech Fest

PanARMENIAN.Net - Atom Egoyan has been tapped to host the tribute to Canada hosted at the 15th edition of Marrakech Film Festival, Variety reports.

Egoyan will receive the festival’s trophy during the homage to Canadian cinema on Dec. 6 along with a large delegation of Canuck directors and actors.

The critically-acclaimed Armenian-Canadian helmer has directed fifteen feature films and nabbed five prizes at Cannes, along with two Oscar nominations and eight Genie Awards, among other kudos. Egoyan’s recent credits include Cannes’ Palme d’Or contender “Captive.” His next movie, “Remember” competed at Venice.

“Through films such as ‘Exotica,’ ‘The Sweet Hereafter’ and ‘Felicia’s Journey,’ Egoyan has brilliantly explored the solitude of individuals struggling amid an alienating society,” stated the festival.

Previous Marrakech editions have paid tribute to U.K., Mexican, Scandinavian and Japanese cinema.

Meanwhile, French-Tunisian thesp Sami Bouajila is set to participate in the festival’s main jury. This year, Bouajila has two pics coming up: Frank Gastambide’s “Pattaya” and Julien Leclercq’s “Braqueurs.”

Bouajila is best known for his roles in Rachid Bouchareb’s “Outside the Law,” “Days of Glory,” Roschdy Zem’s “Omar Killed Me” and Andre Techine’s “Witnesses.”