British Jeremy Irons, 7th art genius

The 2003 edition had welcomed the superstar with open arms to chair the jury of the short film competition, and now, eleven years later, Irons returns to Marrakech, a city he knows very well, for a solemn tribute scheduled as part of the Festival. The undisputed headliner and star of movie theaters did not hide his emotion in a speech for the occasion, showing his passion for the red city that he had discovered during its third edition before returning to it for the shooting of two feature films directed by Claude Lelouch and Ridley Scott. Adored by movie fans from around the world, Jeremy Irons was not unworthy of such tribute given his status and his brilliant performances both on stage, in television and films. Indeed, he boasts a rich career of more than thirty-year that earned him the privilege to appear as one of the most respected and admired superstars.

Fascinated by the theater, Irons was featured in his late teens in the "Marlowe Theater" of Canterbury, and three years later, he joined the cast of the British old Vic. After multiplying his performances on stage, especially with the "Royal Shakespeare Company" in addition to roles for British television, he made his major film debut in "Nijinsky" in 1980, a drama by Herbert Ross, where he played opposite to Alan Bates. Then he worked alongside the great Meryl Streep in "The French Lieutenant's Woman," by Karel Reisz.

With a reputation of a very demanding and professional actor, Jeremy Irons plays later a Jesuit evangelist during the 18th century in "Mission" by Roland Joffe, and then take the dual role of twins in "Dead Ringers", a thriller film by David Cronenberg.

All was crowned in 1990 with the awarding of the Oscar for Best Actor for playing the role of the wealthy Count von Bulow in "The Mystery Von Bulow" by Barbet Schroeder. The following year, he slips into the skin of the writer Kafka in a film by Steven Soderbergh.

Often playing on the screen the roles of cold and disturbing characters, Irons worked with different renowned film directors such as Steven Soderbergh, Bille August, John McTiernan, Bernardo Bertolucci, Wayne Wang, Adrian Lyne, Claude Lelouch, Simon Wells, Franco Zeffirelli and Henry Bromell.