Oscar award winning director, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, named Cannes jury president

Pierre Lescure, the president of the festival, and its artistic director, Thierry Frémaux, confirmed Iñárritu’s choice as jury president.

The Babel director was chosen by the Cannes team to head the jury of the 72nd Cannes Film Festival because “he’s not only a daring filmmaker and a director who is full of surprises but also a man of conviction and an artist of his time,” Lescure and Fremaux state.

Responding to the announcement, Iñárritu says: “Cannes is a festival that has been important to me since the beginning of my career. I am humbled and thrilled to return this year with the immense honour of presiding over the jury.

“Cinema runs through the veins of the planet, and this festival has been its heart. We on the jury will have the privilege to witness the new and excellent work of fellow filmmakers from all over the planet. This is a true delight and a responsibility that we will assume with passion and devotion,” he said.

Iñárritu’s directed films, Birdman and The Revenant earned him four Academy awards in two years. He won Best Director in 2015 and 2016, Best Picture, and Best Original Screenplay.