Juliette Binoche to Lead as Jury President at Cannes Film Festival, Celebrating Four Decades of Cinematic Brilliance

Cannes, France — Esteemed French actress Juliette Binoche has been appointed as the president of the jury for this year’s Cannes Film Festival, a prestigious role that marks a significant milestone nearly four decades after her first appearance at the event. The announcement was made early Tuesday, solidifying Binoche’s long-standing relationship with the celebrated film festival.

Binoche, whose career was launched on the Croisette, first ascended the festival’s famed steps in 1985 with André Téchiné’s “Rendez-vous.” She later captured the Best Actress award at Cannes in 2010 for her role in Abbas Kiarostami’s “Certified Copy.” In the same year, she notably took a stand for imprisoned Iranian director Jafar Panahi, showcasing a placard with his name during her stage appearance.

Over the years, Binoche has graced the Cannes red carpet with numerous films, including Michael Haneke’s “Code Unknown” in 2000 and “Hidden” in 2005, Olivier Assayas’ “Clouds Of Sils Maria” in 2014, Bruno Dumont’s “Slack Bay” in 2016, and most recently in Tran Anh Hung’s “The Taste Of Things” in 2023, which also represented France in the previous season’s Oscar submissions.

Reflecting on her new role as jury president, Binoche expressed both excitement and a sense of responsibility. “In 1985, I walked up the steps for the first time with the enthusiasm and uncertainty of a young actress. I never imagined I’d return 40 years later in the honorary role of president of the jury,” she stated. Binoche emphasized her appreciation for the privilege and the essential need for humility in her upcoming task.

This year’s festival is notable not only for Binoche’s appointment but also for being the second consecutive year that Cannes has selected a woman to lead the jury. This follows Greta Gerwig’s tenure in 2024 and highlights a slow but noticeable shift towards greater gender parity in festival leadership roles, a topic that has been at the forefront of industry discussions in recent years. The first woman to hold this position was Olivia de Havilland in 1965, quickly succeeded by Sophia Loren in 1966.

Apart from her Cannes roles, Binoche has continued to maintain a strong presence in the film industry. She starred in the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival selection “The Return,” alongside Ralph Fiennes. Binoche also took on the role of president of the European Film Academy last year.

The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to run from May 13-24, promising a lineup that will once again bring together cinematic talent from around the globe under the stewardship of one of France’s most revered actresses.

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