A royal-sponsored showcase of sorts for Morocco at its worldly, movie-friendly best, this longstanding annual event brings actors and directors from around the globe to Marrakesh. The festivities include screenings and public Q&A sessions; they kick off in early December, last a week or so, and take place mostly at the centrally located Palais des Congrès. Play your cards right and you may end up rubbing elbows with Martin Scorsese, Catherine Deneuve, Bollywood megastar Shahruh Khan, or one of the many other luminaries who have attended in the past. Or try one of the nightly open-air screenings at the medina’s bustling Place Jemaa el Fnaa, where medieval Morocco brushes up against the 21st century.