The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, held from May 13 to 24, 2025, is under the stewardship of a distinguished nine-member jury, led by French actress Juliette Binoche. Binoche, whose illustrious career spans over four decades, brings a wealth of experience and artistic insight to the role of jury president. She succeeds Greta Gerwig, who chaired the jury in 2024.
The jury comprises a diverse group of international talents:
- Halle Berry: The only Black woman to have won the Best Actress Oscar, Berry is renowned for her roles in Monster’s Ball, X-Men, Die Another Day, and Catwoman.
- Payal Kapadia: An Indian filmmaker who made history as the first Indian director to win the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2024 for her debut feature All We Imagine As Light.
- Alba Rohrwacher: An Italian actress known for her collaborations with her sister, director Alice Rohrwacher, in films like The Wonders and Happy as Lazzaro.
- Leïla Slimani: A French-Moroccan author and women’s rights activist, Slimani won France’s prestigious Prix Goncourt for her novel Chanson Douce.
- Dieudo Hamadi: A Congolese documentary filmmaker whose work, including Downstream to Kinshasa, has shed light on the challenges in his homeland.
- Hong Sang-soo: A South Korean director with a strong presence at Cannes, having competed for the top prize multiple times.
- Carlos Reygadas: A Mexican filmmaker who has previously won Best Director at Cannes for Post Tenebras Lux in 2012.
- Jeremy Strong: An American actor acclaimed for his role in HBO’s Succession, Strong has received an Emmy, Tony Award, and Golden Globe, and was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Roy Cohn in The Apprentice.
This eclectic jury reflects Cannes’ commitment to diversity and global cinema, bringing together voices from various cultures and disciplines to select the recipient of the coveted Palme d’Or.
The festival opened with the French comedy Leave One Day by Amélie Bonnin and is set to close with a restored 4K version of Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon. The Honorary Palme d’Or was awarded to Robert De Niro during the opening ceremony.
As the festival progresses, the jury’s deliberations will undoubtedly influence the cinematic landscape, highlighting emerging talents and celebrating the art of filmmaking.
