Richard Linklater’s ‘Hit Man’ to Open Morocco’s Marrakech Film Festivalīensaïdi is one of Morocco’s most critically acclaimed directors and a Marrakech Fest aficionado. Mikkelsen, who in tandem with his Hollywood career has recently returned to making films in his native Denmark such as Thomas Vinterberg’s “Another Round” and Nikolaj Arcel’s “The Promised Land,” which is Denmark’s current Oscar hopeful, said in a statement that he is “Proud, honoured and so fortunate, that in a short while I will meet friends and colleagues and some of my all-time heroes in beautiful Marrakech.”

The fest, which is forging ahead despite the Israel-Hamas conflict that has caused cancellations of several movie celebrations across the Arab world as well as the earthquake that hit the country in September, has also recruited an impressive lineup of international talents to hold onstage conversations, including Tilda Swinton, Viggo Mortensen, and Willem Dafoe. “Casino Royale” Bond villain Mads Mikkelsen and Moroccan actor-director Faouzi Bensaïdi will be celebrated with career achievement awards at the upcoming 20th Marrakech International Film Festival that will run November 24- December 2.

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