Jesse Eisenberg's second feature as writer-director has been named the opening film of the 23rd Marrakech International Film Festival. The announcement came on November 2; the festival runs November 20 to 28 in Marrakesh, Morocco.
The Debut is a musical comedy following Mona Friedman (Julianne Moore), a shy New Jersey housewife who wins a supporting role in a community theater production called Nosy Neighbors. Under the influence of Jerry (Paul Giamatti), the production's consuming director, she becomes increasingly absorbed by the part. The cast also includes Halle Bailey, Colton Ryan, Bernadette Peters, and Havana Rose Liu. Emile Mosseri composed the score; Eisenberg wrote the songs.
The film premiered at Telluride on September 5 and has since screened at Toronto, San Sebastián, the New York Film Festival, and the BFI London Film Festival, where it closed the program on October 18. Moore received the Golden Icon Award at Zurich. It holds a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 73 reviews and a 78 on Metacritic.
Emma Stone and Dave McCary's Fruit Tree and Ali Herting produced; Topic Studios executive produced. A24 releases the film in the United States on December 11. Lionsgate UK distributes it in Britain from January 15, 2027.
Marrakech adds the highest-profile international slot yet to a festival run that has quietly positioned The Debut as one of awards season's late arrivals.
