The 2018 Cannes Film Festival runs from May 8-19, and now have their jury of nine ready and waiting for the main competition. The previously announced president of the jury, Australian actress and two-time Oscar winner, Cate Blanchett, will be joined by four other women, and four men. Collectively they will decide upon the Palme d’Or, Grand Prize, Jury Prize, Best Director, Actor, Actress, Screenplay and others at the festival’s closing ceremony on May 19. The eight jury members joining Blanchett are:
French actress Léa Seydoux – was asked to the stage with co-star Adèle Exarchopoulos, as well as director Abdellatif Kechiche, when Blue is the Warmest Colour was handed the Palme d’Or in 2013. Seydouz also appeared in Cannes favorites The Lobster (Yorgos Lanthimos) and It’s Only the End of the World (Xavier Dolan).
Chinese actor Chang Chen – you may reognize him from a pivotal supporting role in Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000. Chen is also well known for roles in both Hou Hsiao-hsien’s Three Times and The Assassin (Best Director winner at Cannes in 2015).
Activist filmmaker Robert Guédiguian – has been to Cannes before with films Marie-Jo And Her Two Lovers (in Competition in 2002) and The Snows Of Kilimanjaro (Un Certain Regard in 2011).
Writer, director, and producer Ava DuVernay – made history by recounting history when directing Selma, which was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars in 2014. DuVernay then turnd to TV, before grabbing an Oscar nomination for her documentary 13th.
Russian writer-director Andrei Zvyagintsev – just last year won the Jury Prize for Loveless, and in 2014 was honored with the Best Screenplay prize for Leviathan (co-written by Oleg Negin). Zvyagintsev has also been to Cannes with The Banishment in 2007, and Elena in 2011.
US actress and director Kristen Stewart – receiving acclaim for her change of role directing a short film, Stewart was a strong presence in Cannes two years with Persoanal Shopper and then four years ago with Clouds Of Sils Maria – both were she ws touted as astrong Best Actress contender, and both directed by Olivier Assayas.
Burundian musician Khadja Nin – received the Prix de l’Action Feminine award by the African Women’s League in 2016. Nin is also a songwriter, composer, and singer.
Canadian director, screenwriter Denis Villeneuve – his first film August 32nd On Earth was selected in Un Certain Regard back in 1998, then part of the Directors’ Fortnight with Polytechnique in 2009. Sicario was in Compeititon at Cannes a couple of years ago.Currently on the back of great success with Blade Runner 2049.
