The 79th Festival de Cannes unveils its official jury

The Festival de Cannes 2026 has officially announced the composition of its international jury, set to preside over one of the most anticipated competitions in world cinema. As previously confirmed, South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook will serve as Jury President, guiding deliberations that will culminate in the awarding of the Palme d’Or on May 23.

The festival, scheduled in Cannes between May 12 and May 23, gathers a jury that reflects a wide spectrum of cinematic practices and cultural backgrounds. Alongside Park Chan-wook, the panel includes American actress and producer Demi Moore, Irish-Ethiopian performer Ruth Negga, Belgian director Laura Wandel, Chinese filmmaker Chloé Zhao, Chilean director Diego Céspedes, Ivorian-American actor Isaach De Bankolé, Scottish screenwriter Paul Laverty, and Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård.

Park Chan-wook’s Return to Cannes

Park Chan-wook’s relationship with Cannes is longstanding and decisive. His breakthrough came with Old Boy, awarded the Grand Prix in 2004. Since then, his presence in competition has consistently translated into recognition, including the Jury Prize for Thirst in 2009 and Best Director for Decision to Leave in 2022.

Known for a cinematic language that blends formal precision with provocative themes, Park’s work often navigates revenge, moral ambiguity, and psychological tension. His appointment as Jury President aligns with Cannes’ ongoing dialogue with contemporary Asian cinema and reinforces the festival’s attention to auteur-driven storytelling.

A Jury Bridging Industry and Auteur Cinema

The composition of this year’s jury balances mainstream visibility with independent sensibilities. Demi Moore, recently acclaimed for her performance in The Substance, brings decades of industry experience to the role. Ruth Negga contributes a cross-disciplinary background spanning theatre, television, and film, including her Oscar-nominated role in Loving.

Chloé Zhao stands out as one of the most awarded filmmakers of her generation, having won the Academy Award for Best Director with Nomadland. Her presence signals Cannes’ continued engagement with filmmakers who navigate both independent and studio systems.

Emerging voices are equally represented. Diego Céspedes, winner of Un Certain Regard in 2025, embodies a new wave of Latin American cinema, while Laura Wandel’s socially grounded storytelling gained attention with Playground. Their inclusion suggests a jury attentive to new cinematic languages.

Established Voices and Longstanding Collaborations

The jury also includes figures with deep ties to European cinema. Paul Laverty, a long-time collaborator of Ken Loach, has twice contributed to Palme d’Or-winning films, The Wind That Shakes the Barley and I, Daniel Blake. His screenwriting perspective introduces a narrative-focused approach to the deliberations.

Stellan Skarsgård, known for his versatility across auteur cinema and large-scale productions, adds a performative dimension shaped by collaborations with directors such as Lars von Trier and Denis Villeneuve. Isaach De Bankolé, whose career spans Jim Jarmusch’s films and international productions, further enriches the panel’s global outlook.

The Road to the Palme d’Or

The jury will evaluate 22 films in competition, selecting the successor to It Was Just an Accident by Jafar Panahi, which won the Palme d’Or in 2025 under the presidency of Juliette Binoche.

The awards ceremony, scheduled for May 23, will be broadcast in France by France Télévisions and internationally by Brut. The event marks the culmination of a festival that continues to position itself as a central platform for cinematic innovation and global dialogue.