Blanchett to be president of Cannes

Cate takes on jury role for 71st edition

by Richard Mowe

Cate Blanchett - when she was in Cannes in 2015 to launch Todd Haynes’s Carol
Cate Blanchett - when she was in Cannes in 2015 to launch Todd Haynes’s Carol Photo: Richard Mowe
The Cannes Film Festival organisers have announced that Cate Blanchett will be this year's jury president of the 71st edition.

The Australian actress follows Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar, who presided over the jury for the festival's 70th edition which awarded the prestigious Palme d’or to The Square by Swedish director Ruben Östlund.

Blanchett said: “I have been to Cannes in many guises over the years; as an actress, producer, in the marketplace, the Gala-sphere and in Competition but never solely for the sheer pleasure of watching the cornucopia of films this great festival harbours.”

She added: “This festival plays a pivotal role in bringing the world together to celebrate story; that strange and vital endeavour that all peoples share, understand and crave. I am humbled by the privilege and responsibility of presiding over this year’s jury.”

Festival president Pierre Lescure and delegate-general Thierry Frémaux said they were “delighted to welcome such a rare and unique artist whose talent and convictions enrich both screen and stage. Our conversations from this autumn tell us she will be a committed President, a passionate woman and a big-hearted spectator”.

Blanchett who won the 2014 best actress Oscar for Blue Jasmine as well as the supporting actress Oscar for The Aviator, was involved in the recent Time Up initiative against sexual harassment and was one of the first to speak up about Harvey Weinstein.

The Cannes Film Festival begins 8 May and continues until 19 May.

Share this with others on...
News

It's all life Alan Rudolph on what’s in Breakfast Of Champions and not in Kurt Vonnegut’s novel

Small town problems Boston McConnaughey and Renny Grames on Utah, demolition derbies and Alien Country

'The real horror is how they treat each other' Nikol Cybulya on trauma and relationships in Tomorrow I Die

Leaning to darkness Aislinn Clarke on the Na Sidhe, Ireland's troubled history, and Fréwaka

Strangers in paradise Alan Rudolph on Robert Altman, Bruce Willis, Nick Nolte, Albert Finney, Owen Wilson and Breakfast Of Champions

Anora leads in the year's first big awards race Full list of Gotham nominees announced

More news and features

Interact

More competitions coming soon.


DJDT

Versions

Time

Settings from settings.local

Headers

Request

SQL queries from 1 connection

Templates (11 rendered)

Cache calls from 2 backends

Signals