U.S. stars Jeff Goldblum, John Turturro, and Moroccan composer-actor Younès Mégri have been unveiled as the honorees of this 23rd Marrakech International Film Festival.
Turturro is currently on the festival and awards with The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, which plays in the festival’s gala screenings lineup.
The Marrakech honor follows a career marked by collaborations with Spike Lee, including on Do the Right Thing and Jungle Fever, as well as with Joel and Ethan Coen, on cult pictures such as Barton Fink, for which he won Best Actor at Cannes in 1991, and The Big Lebowski, in the role of Jesus Quintana.
His filmography also includes Martin Scorsese’s The Color of Money; Robert Redford’s Quiz Show, for which he was nominated for Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards; Robert De Niro’s Reasons of State, and Nanni Moretti’s Mia Madre.
A mid-career foray into TV saw him become a household name with Monk, for which he won an Emmy Award, while more recent TV work The Night Of and Severance has also introduced him new fans.
As a director, he won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes in 1992 for his first feature-length film, Mac, before going on to direct Romance & Cigarettes, Fading Gigolo, and The Jesus Rolls, among other works.
“I am honored to receive this tribute from the Marrakech International Film Festival. There is something particularly meaningful about having one’s work celebrated in a place with such a rich cultural history and such a deep appreciation for the art of storytelling,” he said.
“The Only Living Pickpocket in New York is a poignant portrait of a man facing a rapidly changing world as he struggles to find his place within it. Noah Segan has made a beautiful, deeply human film, and I am delighted to share it with audiences at the festival.”
Goldblum’s career highlights includes David Cronenberg’s The Fly, Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park, From Roland Emmerich’s Independence Day, Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel and Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok, with more recent credits including Jon M. Chu’s recent Wicked and Wicked: For Good, in which he plays the Wizard of Oz.
A passionate pianist, Goldblum also pursues a career as a jazz musician with his Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, whose fifth album, “Night Blooms,” was released in June 2026.
“It is beyond a thrill and a privilege to be honored at the iconic Marrakech International Film Festival. What a captivating place! This glorious city with such deep roots in storytelling and craftsmanship! I feel wildly lucky indeed. It is truly a rapturous joy—and an adventure upon which I can’t wait to embark. I am yours with the deepest and most humble appreciation and respect—and with infinite gratitude!!!” said Goldblum.
Singer and composer Mégri has forged a career in which music and film have always been closely intertwined. Born in Oujda in 1951 into a family of artists, the youngest of the legendary fraternal musical ensemble Les Frères Mégri.
In 1972, his song ‘Lili Twil’ was a huge hit and went gold. His talent took him to numerous stages the world over, notably the Olympia in Paris, helping to spread the influence of Moroccan music far beyond the borders of the kingdom.
He embarked on his career as an actor in the late 1980s, with a career marked by collaborations with Ahmed Boulane on films including Ali, Rabiaa, et les autres, Satanic Angels and The Return of the Son. He also starred in Kamal Kamal’s The Moroccan Symphony, Mohamed Mouftakir’s The Blind Orchestra, Peter Kosminsky’s The Government Inspector and Jean Delannoy’s Mary of Nazareth.
“I did not leave music for film; I just switched instruments. This tribute in Marrakech tells me that the audience heard the same sincerity in both. That’s what moves me the most,” declared Mégri.
Goldblum and Turturro will also participate in the festival’s Conversations program with furthers speakers including Monica Bellucci, James Gray, Cristian Mungiu, Laïla Marrakchi, Luca Guadagnino, Xavier Dolan, Rian Johnson, Gilles Lellouche and Arthur Harari.
The 23rd edition runs from November 20 to 28.
