RABAT, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- The 17th edition of Morocco's Marrakech International Film Festival, scheduled on Nov. 30 to Dec. 8, will pay tribute to the U.S. actor Robert De Niro, organizers said Monday in a statement.

"Although I have been to Marrakech on several occasions, I feel I am now seeing a side of Marrakech I have always wanted to see. I am most grateful for this invitation, and I am looking forward to being a part of a great festival," De Niro was quoted as saying.

De Niro, born in 1943, first gained fame for his role in "Bang the Drum Slowly" and gained his reputation as a volatile actor in "Mean Streets," both in 1973.

In 1974, De Niro won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for "the Godfather, Part II." In 1980, he won his second Oscar, as Best Actor, for "Raging Bull."

De Niro has also earned Academy Award nominations for his work in "Taxi Driver," "the Deer Hunter" and "Cape Fear."

The event, which started in 2001, returns to the festival calendar after taking a year off in 2017 to "reflect on its editorial line."

The competition selection will consist of 14 first and second films chosen by a programming committee headed by German artistic director Christoph Terhechte.