French Lebanese filmmaker Audrey Diwan has been selected as the jury president for the upcoming Cannes Critics’ Week. The event, which is dedicated to emerging talents and first and second features, will take place from 17th – 25th May 2023.
Audrey Diwan, born in 1980, is a writer and filmmaker who belongs to a new generation of female directors, known for their sharpness and formal freedom. She has been credited with reinventing the codes and redefining the boundaries of international cinema, according to a report in Deadline.
Diwan will lead the jury, which comprises a group of international film experts, including Portuguese director of photography Rui Pocas, German actor and choreographer Franz Rogowski, Indian journalist and curator Meenakshi Shedde, and American film programmer Kim Yutani.
Diwan's selection as the jury president is a testament to her outstanding achievements in the film industry. In 2021, she won the Venice Golden Lion award for her second feature film, "Happening," which was based on the 2000 novel of the same name by Annie Ernaux.
Diwan's selection is also significant because of her Lebanese heritage. Her work has often explored the themes of identity and belonging, and she has been praised for her ability to portray the complexities of human emotions and relationships.
The Cannes Critics’ Week is an important event for up-and-coming filmmakers, and Diwan's appointment as jury president is a significant recognition of her talent and contribution to the film industry. It is also an opportunity for her to encourage and inspire a new generation of filmmakers, especially women, to pursue their dreams and achieve their goals.
The Cannes Critics’ Week provides a much-needed platform for filmmakers to showcase their work and connect with the global film community. With Audrey Diwan at the helm, this year's event promises to be a celebration of creativity, innovation, and diversity.
