"The Kingdom of Morocco is among my most favorite places on earth, and thus the Marrakech International Film Festival is a joy to attend," said Coppola.
"My Paternal Grandmother was born in North Africa (Tunisia) and I remember well the stories she told. All that personal history plus the fact that Morocco was the first country to recognize the American Colonies as an independent nation makes me feel most welcome," he added.
Coppola, 76, one of the most prominent directors to revolutionize the movie-making in the gangster genere with his "The Godfather" triology will head the jury previously helmed by Isabelle Huppert and Martin Scorsese.