The 17th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival, scheduled on Nov. 30-Dec. 8, will pay tribute to US actor Robert De Niro, who confirmed his presence at the event, organizers said Monday in a press release. «Although I have been to Marrakech on several occasions, I feel I am now seeing a side of Marrakech I have always wanted to see. I am most grateful for this invitation, and I am looking forward to being a part of a great Festival», De Niro pointed out, as quoted in the release. Robert De Niro launched his motion picture career in Brian De Palma's «The Wedding Party» in 1969. By 1974 he had won the New York Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor in «Bang the Drum Slowly» and from the National Society of Film Critic for «Mean Streets». In 1974, De Niro won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for «The Godfather, Part II». In 1980, he won his second Oscar, as Best Actor, for «Raging Bull». De Niro has also earned Academy Award nominations for his work in: «Taxi Driver», «The Deer Hunter», «Awakenings», the remake of «Cape Fear» and «Silver Linings Playbook». De Niro's next project will be Netflix's «The Irishman» for director Martin Scorsese in which he stars and also produced with Scorsese. «The Irishman» marks De Niro's and Scorsese's ninth collaboration. In 2009, De Niro received the Kennedy Center Honor for his distinguished acting and the Stanley Kubrick Award from the BAFTA Britannia Awards. De Niro was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2011 Golden Globe Awards. He also served as the jury president of the 64th Cannes Film Festival.
