Hollywood stars Sigourney Weaver and Michelle Yeoh will be honoured at this year's Marrakesh international film festival which starts Thursday.Organisers described both actresses as "timeless female heroines".
Weaver made her name in Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi epic "Alien" while Yeoh is best known outside of Asia for her roles in James Bond movie "Tomorrow Never Dies" and Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon."
Some 15 entries will compete for the top "Etoile d'Or" prize, including films from China, India, Denmark, Ireland and the Philippines. Leading the jury is American director Barry Levinson, who directed Robin Williams in "Good Morning Vietnam" and Tom Cruise in "Rain Man".
Last year's winner was Estonian film "Autumn Ball" directed by Veiko Ounpuu.
About 40 British films are to be shown this year, including Ken Loach's "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" which won the best film prize at the Cannes film festival in 2006.
Screenings at the festival, which runs until November 22, will be in movie theatres and in city streets. A number will be shown in the Djemaa el Fna square.
French-German channel Arte has adapted eight films to allow blind or visually-impaired people to follow them using "Audio Description". An actor's voice describes each scene and is transmitted by headset.
