Cannes Film Festival has revealed who will be deciding this year’s recipient of its most prestigious honor, the Palme d’Or. As previously announced, the Competition jury will be headed by president Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu (“The Revenant”). Of eight jurors to be added to his team, four are women: Kelly Reichardt, Alice Rohrwacher, Elle Fanning, and Maimouna N’Diaye. Screen Daily confirmed the news.
Indie darling Reichardt, who most recently wrote and directed 2016’s “Certain Women,” screened Michelle Williams-starrer “Wendy and Lucy” in Cannes’ 2008 Un Certain Regard section.
Rohrwacher’s “Heavenly Body” was part of the Directors’ Fortnight program in 2011 and won the Nastro d’argento. In 2014 she screened “The Wonders” in Competition. The coming-of-age story received the grand prix. She won last year’s Best Screenplay award in the Competition category for “Happy As Lazzaro,” a fable about a time traveler.
Fanning has been to Cannes for three films she’s starred in: 2006’s “Babel,” 2016’s “The Neon Demon,” and 2017’s “The Beguiled.”
“Eye Of The Storm,” “A Woman Like No Other,” and “Ca Tourne à Ouaga” are among N’Diaye’s acting credits.
“The Cannes’ Jury is excited to see films directed by the greatest filmmakers of our time – which is the case again this year,” said Cannes president Pierre Lescure and and artistic director Thierry Frémaux. “Every one of the directors being part of the competition also has to know they will be considered by strong artists – which is also the case!”
Jurors will announce prize winners during the fest’s closing ceremony, scheduled for May 25. Just four features screening in Competition are directed by women.