Cannes Film Festival Unveils Nine-Member Jury Led by Park Chan-wook
The jury, comprising Demi Moore and Stellan Skarsgård among others, will deliberate on competition entries starting on 12 May.
Organisers have officially revealed the composition of the nine-member jury for the 79th Cannes Film Festival, a body charged with determining the winner of the prestigious Palme d'Or. The panel, which is set to deliberate on the films in competition at the annual French Riviera event, was announced on Monday by the festival's organisers. The festival is scheduled to commence on 12 May, marking the start of the week-long celebration of cinema.
The jury is presided over by South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, who has been confirmed as the president of the panel. Joining him are American actor Demi Moore, Chinese-American director Chloé Zhao, and Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård. The remaining members of the group include Irish-Ethiopian actress Ruth Negga, Belgian director Laura Wandel, Chilean director Diego Céspedes, Ivorian American actor Isaach De Bankolé, and Scottish screenwriter Paul Laverty.
Notable among the selection is the inclusion of Demi Moore, who is riding a late-career resurgence following her Oscar-nominated performance in "The Substance". This film premiered at the festival in 2024 and is expected to be a significant presence as the jury deliberates. Similarly, Stellan Skarsgård is recognised for his recent Oscar-nominated role in "Sentimental Value", which launched at Cannes last year. Both actors represent a trend of recent jury members having co-starred in festival films that subsequently earned them Academy Award nominations.
The announcement comes just a week prior to the opening of the 79th edition of the festival. The nine-member group will be responsible for evaluating the films submitted to the competition, a role that places them at the centre of the festival's most critical judging function. Their decisions will ultimately define the artistic direction and recognition for the year's cinematic output on the French Riviera.
While the specific criteria for the jury's deliberations are not detailed in the initial announcement, the diversity of the panel reflects the global nature of the festival. The inclusion of directors, actors, and screenwriters from various backgrounds suggests a broad perspective on the films that will be screened. The festival organisers have not yet provided further details on the voting process or the specific themes the jury might prioritise during their week of screening.
The confirmation of the jury list serves as a key milestone ahead of the festival's launch on 12 May. With the panel now fully constituted, attention shifts to the programming of the competition section and the broader cultural events surrounding the festival. The presence of high-profile figures such as Park Chan-wook and Demi Moore underscores the continued significance of Cannes as a premier venue for international cinema.
