After choosing American director Barbie last year, the Cannes Film Festival is now turning to a French cinema icon to preside over its 78th edition jury. Greta Gerwig will pass the torch to actress Juliette Binoche (Les Amants du Pont-Neuf, the Three Colors trilogy, The English Patient) next May, as reported by Franceinfo and France Inter through the festival's organizing team. This is a recognition for a woman with an exceptional career who has made a deep mark...
the industry internationally.C'est officiel, Juliette Binoche présidera le Jury de la 78e édition du #FestivaldeCannes ! 🎬
— Festival de Cannes (@Festival_Cannes) February 4, 2025
Succédant à la réalisatrice américaine Greta Gerwig, l'actrice française décernera la Palme d’or le samedi 24 mai, 40 ans après ses premiers pas sur la Croisette !
Engagée dans son… pic.twitter.com/3kfgB5DlXI
Juliette Binoche, humble and delighted
« Exactly forty years after her first appearance on the Croisette, she [Juliette Binoche] will preside over the jury of the 78th Cannes Film Festival, which will award the Palme d’Or on Saturday, May 24 », reads the statement published on Tuesday, February 4, by the team of the Cannes Film Festival.
A delightful anniversary nod to Juliette Binoche’s long and rich career, who was able to express her joy in this same statement: « In 1985, I climbed the steps for the first time with excitement and uncertainty as a young actress, I never imagined I would return, 40 years later, in this honorary role of jury president. I feel the privilege, the responsibility, and the absolute necessity …»
d’humilité », writes the 60-year-old actress. « I eagerly await sharing these moments of life with the jury members and the audience », she shares next, while the audience, on their side, is excited to know which film she will award the Palme d’Or to take the torch from Anora, the latest film by Sean Baker.🏆🎬 L'actrice française Juliette #Binoche sera la cinquième femme à être présidente du jury du festival de #Cannes.
— FRANCE 24 Français (@France24_fr) February 4, 2025
➡️ Une nomination qui consacre une carrière complète et engagée pic.twitter.com/Tg8EvexjS0
An “International Star”
The festival team can't stop praising their choice: Juliette Binoche, the “international star,” was absolutely meant to take on this role. Not only recognized in France, she gained international fame for her performance in The English Patient (1996), earning her the Best Supporting Actress award at the 69th Academy Awards. An actress with numerous accolades (including Cannes, the César, the Venice Film Festival, and the Berlinale), she is also beloved by the general public for her unambiguous positions on the left, advocating for issues like ecology, the #MeToo movement, and human rights. These humanist values will hopefully flow into her jury, which will be formed soon.