At the Marrakech International Film Festival, Virginie Efira and Chiara Mastroianni made a passionate case for cinema that resists commercial constraints and embraces artistic risk. Speaking on Sunday as part of the festival’s renowned “Conversations” series, the Belgian and French-Italian actresses pushed back against an industry increasingly driven by profitability, where creativity often takes a backseat to financial return.
Both women expressed concern about the growing dominance of market logic in filmmaking, warning that the pursuit of guaranteed box office results is stifling bold, original storytelling. They argued that this fixation on revenue undermines the very qualities that make cinema meaningful – the courage to explore uncomfortable terrain, the willingness to surprise audiences with unexpected roles, and the freedom to take creative detours that may not follow a clear commercial path.
Efira and Mastroianni championed a kind of filmmaking that leans into contradiction. For them, cinema thrives in the space between extremes: between tears and laughter, realism and fantasy, clarity and mystery. They believe the beauty of film lies in its ability to capture what can’t always be neatly explained – to express the unspoken, the ambiguous, and the emotionally raw.
Family narratives, they said, offer an endless well of inspiration. The complexities of familial relationships – ruptures, reconciliations, unspoken tensions, and bursts of love – create emotionally rich material that resonates across backgrounds and cultures. These stories, grounded in shared human experience, are fertile ground for storytelling that feels both personal and universal.
The actresses also spoke about their affinity for what they called “over-signified” films – works that layer meaning through direction and visual language, but that leave enough space for personal interpretation. These films don’t require the viewer to understand every nuance to feel deeply moved. On the contrary, it’s the tension between understanding and emotion that creates a powerful connection between audience and filmmaker.
Now in its 22nd year, the Marrakech festival has solidified its reputation as a global hub for thoughtful, artist-driven cinema. Under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI, the “Conversations” series has become a festival cornerstone, offering intimate, in-depth discussions with some of the biggest names in the industry. These encounters invite actors, directors, and other creatives to reflect on their journeys and share their philosophies on the craft.
This year’s lineup includes cinematic heavyweights such as Bong Joon Ho, who made history with “Parasite,” Guillermo del Toro, known for “The Shape of Water” and “Pinocchio,” and Australian auteur Andrew Dominik. Also set to appear are Laurence Fishburne, an enduring presence in American cinema, double Oscar-winner Jodie Foster, and Bollywood powerhouse Karan Johar.
Though modest in presentation, these conversations are rich in insight. They serve as a reminder that film can still be a space of resistance—a way to push back against formula and reclaim storytelling as a creative, liberating act.
