Renowned talents from across the global film industry—including Academy Award-winner Halle Berry, acclaimed Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia, Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher, French-Moroccan author Leïla Slimani, Congolese documentarian Dieudo Hamadi, celebrated South Korean director Hong Sangsoo, visionary Mexican filmmaker Carlos Reygadas, and Emmy-winning actor Jeremy Strong—have been officially selected to serve on the prestigious jury panel for the 78th Cannes Film Festival’s main Competition. The highly anticipated cinematic event will take place from May 13 to May 24, celebrating exceptional storytelling and artistic innovation on the world stage.
Joining the previously announced Jury President, Juliet Binoche, the newly appointed members will collaborate to determine the winners among the 21 distinguished entries in the main Competition. Together, they will bestow the prestigious Palme d’Or, alongside honors for the Grand Prix, Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Actor, celebrating the finest achievements in cinematic artistry.
Halle Berry, a trailblazing American actress and filmmaker, made history in 2002 by becoming the first African-American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, earning the prestigious honor for her powerful and emotionally charged performance in Marc Forster’s critically acclaimed film Monster’s Ball.
Seamlessly navigating between major blockbusters and thought-provoking indie films, her cinematic journey showcases a dynamic range of performances across genres. From her powerful role in Jungle Fever (1991) to the Emmy-nominated portrayal in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999), she continued to command the screen in high-octane hits like X-Men (2000), Swordfish (2002), and the James Bond thriller Die Another Day (2003). Her versatility shone in the psychological thriller Gothika (2003), the deeply personal Frankie & Alice (2011), and the ambitious sci-fi epic Cloud Atlas (2012). Reinventing action with flair, she later appeared in Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) and brought striking intensity to John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019), cementing her legacy as a compelling force in both mainstream and independent cinema.
In 2020, she stepped behind the camera for the first time with Bruised, marking a bold and ambitious directorial debut. Expanding her creative footprint beyond acting, she has also taken on the role of producer, contributing to several of her own projects. Her most recent endeavor includes co-producing Alexandre Aja’s gripping 2024 release, Never Let Go, underscoring her dynamic presence and growing influence both in front of and behind the lens.
Indian filmmaker and screenwriter Payal Kapadia made a historic mark at the Cannes Film Festival by winning the prestigious Grand Prix for her debut feature All We Imagine As Light. This Mumbai-set cinematic tribute to friendship was developed during her time at La Résidence de La Cinéfondation in 2019, an incubator for emerging talents. Kapadia’s evocative storytelling not only captivated global audiences but also ended a three-decade-long hiatus for Indian cinema in the Cannes Competition, signaling a powerful resurgence of India’s voice on the world stage.
Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher, a familiar face at the Cannes Film Festival, has built a remarkable career marked by powerful performances in acclaimed international cinema. Her diverse filmography includes standout roles in Luca Guadagnino’s *I Am Love*, Saverio Costanzo’s *The Solitude of Prime Numbers*, Marco Bellocchio’s *Dormant Beauty*, and Laura Bispuri’s *Sworn Virgin*. Renowned for her nuanced acting and deep emotional range, Rohrwacher continues to captivate global audiences with her ability to bring complex characters to life on screen.
She has played a pivotal role in showcasing an impressive selection of films at the Cannes Film Festival, frequently collaborating with her sister, acclaimed director Alice Rohrwacher. Their creative partnership has brought to the competition acclaimed titles such as The Wonders, which earned the Grand Prix in 2014, Happy as Lazzaro, awarded Best Screenplay (ex-aequo) in 2018, and La Chimera in 2023. Beyond this familial collaboration, she has also contributed to the festival spotlighting of other cinematic gems, including Matteo Garrone’s visually rich Tale of Tales (2014) and Nanni Moretti’s introspective Tre Piani (2020), solidifying her presence as a driving force behind some of contemporary cinema’s most celebrated works.
Moroccan author Leïla Slimani has earned widespread acclaim in the world of cinema, particularly for her second novel, Lullaby. This compelling work not only captured the prestigious Prix Goncourt in 2016 but also made its way to the silver screen in 2019. The film adaptation, featuring powerhouse performances by Karin Viard and Leïla Bekhti, further solidified Slimani’s reputation as a storyteller whose work transcends literary boundaries.
Congolese filmmaker, director, and producer Hamadi has captivated audiences with his powerful documentary Downstream to Kinshasa, which was showcased in the prestigious Official Selection of 2020. Currently, he is immersed in the creation of Milimo: Les âmes errantes de Kinshasa, an evocative series for Canal+, where he both directs and produces, shedding light on the soul-stirring stories of Kinshasa. Alongside this, Hamadi is gearing up for his next cinematic venture, La Vie est un chemin de fer, a feature film that promises to weave an intricate narrative, exploring life’s profound journey. His work continues to inspire, offering an insightful exploration of contemporary African experiences through his lens.
Sangsoo, the celebrated South Korean director and screenwriter, has firmly established his presence at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, gracing both the Competition and Un Certain Regard sections with his distinctive storytelling. With a career spanning decades, his films have become synonymous with introspective narratives and compelling human drama. Notably, his Competition films, such as Woman Is the Future of Man (2004), Tale of Cinema (2005), In Another Country (2012), and The Day After (2017), have captured the attention of global audiences. In addition to these, his works in the Un Certain Regard category — including The Power of Kangkwon Province (1998), Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors (2000), Hahaha (2010), and The Day He Arrives (2011) — have not only garnered critical acclaim but also earned him the coveted Un Certain Regard Prize. Sangsoo’s repeated appearances at Cannes reflect his exceptional ability to weave together emotional depth with cinematic innovation, cementing his status as a festival favorite.
Mexican filmmaker Reygadas, renowned for his exceptional work as a director, screenwriter, and producer, garnered the prestigious Caméra d’Or Special for his debut film Japon. He later made waves at the Cannes Film Festival again in 2007 with his compelling second feature, Battle in Heaven, before captivating audiences with Silent Light, which earned him the coveted Jury Prize (shared) that same year. Reygadas’ mastery continued to shine through in 2014 when his thought-provoking film Post Tenebras Lux earned him the title of Best Director, solidifying his place among cinema’s elite.
Last year, U.S. actor Jeremy Strong graced the Cannes Film Festival with his powerful portrayal of Roy Cohn in The Apprentice, a performance that earned him widespread acclaim and nominations for prestigious awards, including the Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA. Alongside this cinematic success, Strong made a triumphant return to the Broadway stage in An Enemy of the People, where his exceptional talent was recognized with the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. His remarkable achievements in both film and theater have solidified his position as one of the most celebrated actors of his generation.
Jeremy Strong, renowned for his exceptional acting prowess, has graced the silver screen with standout performances in a range of prestigious films. His notable credits include Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7, Adam McKay’s The Big Short, James Gray’s Armageddon Time, Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty, and Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln. His portrayal of the complex Kendall Roy in HBO’s critically acclaimed series Succession earned him numerous accolades, including an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a Critics Choice Award. Looking ahead, Strong is set to captivate audiences once again with his role in Scott Cooper’s highly anticipated Bruce Springsteen biopic, Deliver Me From Nowhere, slated for release in late 2025.
