RABAT, Morocco

The jury of the Moroccan Marrakech International Film Festival awarded a Palestinian participating film the festival's second prize.

The festival brought down its curtains Saturday after nine days of festivities during which two Moroccan films and one Palestinian were crowned winners.

A statement by the jury said its trophy prize was handed to the second- and third-place winners -- "Bye Bye Tiberius" from Palestinian director Lina Soualem and "Hounds" by Moroccan director Kamal Lazrak.

The first prize was "Mother of all the Lies" by Asmae El Moudir, which received the Etoile d'Or award.

The Palestinian film, "Bye Bye Tiberius," won best documentary in London and is also set to represent Palestine at the Oscars.

The festival's administration said some of the main events and sections of the festival were canceled in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza who have been under an Israeli devastating onslaught since Oct. 7 that has so far killed more than 15,000 victims.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar