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Nanni Moretti Will Head Cannes Jury

It has been announced that this year the acclaimed Italian director Nanni Moretti will head the jury for this year’s Cannes Film Festival. This will be his first time heading the jury, although he was a member of the jury in 1997. Moretti’s films include The Son’s Room, which won the festival’s top prize- the Palm d’Or- in 2001, and We Have a Pope, his most recent film. He also won the director’s award at Cannes in 1994 for Dear Diary, so he has strong credentials. Thierry Férmaux, Delegate General of the Cannes Festival, said: “Nanni Moretti’s films are the incarnation of all the best in cinema over the past thirty years. His constantly evolving work continues to keep the promise alive of a cinema that is in touch with the world and its times”.

Unlike the Oscars, Cannes Film Festival has an international focus. The jury includes a mixture of professional writers, actors and directors from many different countries, and there have been many international presidents, including French director Luc Besson, who directed the underground (literally and artistically) film Subway. Perhaps more well-known, Tim Burton and Quentin Tarentino have also been presidents.

As a film is eligible only if the film has not been shown outside of the country of origin or been entered for other competitions, film buffs eagerly await to see who will break through at Cannes. Cannes is less openly commercial than the Oscars, which surprised many people by giving Kung Fu Panda 2 a Best Animated Picture Nomination and not Tintin.

Information such as the other jury members and the films nominated have not been released yet, as the festival is not until May. Last year’s jury included Jude Law and Uma Thurman, amongst other international members.

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