18 leading personalities—directors, actors, scriptwriters, and producers from six continents—are expected in Marrakech this year. They are invited to share anecdotes and candid discussions about their vision and practice of their profession with festival-goers, according to the organizers' press release. 

One of the most eagerly awaited events of the Festival, the Conversations program returns for a series of rich and exciting exchanges with leading figures from the world of cinema.

The Conversations program of this 21st edition of the Festival will be attended by Academy Award, Golden Globe, Cannes Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival and Berlin International Film Festival award-winners, says the same source. 

They are US director, screenwriter, and producer Tim Burton; Canadian director and screenwriter David Cronenberg; Mexican director, screenwriter, and producer Alfonso Cuarón; US director and screenwriter Ava DuVernay; US director and screenwriter Todd Haynes; Australian director and screenwriter Justin Kurzel; French director and screenwriter François Ozon; British actor Gemma Arterton.

It also involves US actor and director Sean Penn; Iranian director, screenwriter, and producer Mohammad Rasoulof; Brazilian director and screenwriter Walter Salles; Russian director and screenwriter Kirill Serebrennikov; Mauritanian director and screenwriter Abderrahmane Sissako; and French director and screenwriter Justine Triet. 

Moroccan filmmakers Alaa Eddine Aljem, Yasmine Benkiran, Ismaël El Iraki, and Kamal Lazraq will be in conversation about their first films.

The "Conversation" series offers the public the opportunity to meet some of the biggest names in cinema from all across the globe, notes the statement. 

The "Conversation" program proposes a series of meetings with renowned filmmakers and artists, taking place from November 30 to December 7. Highlights include Justine Triet and Tim Burton on November 30, followed by David Cronenberg and Alfonso Cuarón on December 1.

On December 2, Ava DuVernay and Walter Salles will speak, while François Ozon and Justin Kurzel are scheduled for December 3. Kirill Serebrennikov and Sean Penn will take the stage on December 4, and Mohammad Rasoulof and Gemma Arterton on December 5.

A cross-conversation will bring together Alaa Eddine Aljem, Yasmine Benkiran, Ismael El Iraki, and Kamal Lazraq on December 6, before Todd Haynes concludes the day. Finally, Abderrahmane Sissako will close this rich program on Saturday, December 7, at 11 a.m.

This year, the Conversations program will be held in a new space: the theater in the Meydene cultural center, located in the M Avenue complex close to the Palais des Congrès de Marrakech.