Celebrated directorSpike Leewas announced as Jury President of upcoming Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday morning.The choice makes Lee the first African-American selected to head the panel in the festival’s history.In a statementposted on the festival website early Tuesday morning, the Oscar-winning director said he was “honored” to be chosen for the important position.“When I got the call…I was shocked, happy, surprised and proud all at the same time,” the director, 62, said, also acknowledging the position’s historic nature. “I’m honored to be the first person of the African diaspora (USA) to be named President of the Cannes Jury and of a main film festival.”A longtime darling of festival organizers, Lee has been invited to show (In and Out of Competition) at the festival on seven occasions beginning with his first featureShe’s Gotta Have, which won the Youth Prize in 1986. His filmsDo The Right ThingandJungle Feverwere later shortlisted for the festival’s Palme d’Or.His 2018 entry,BlackkKlansman, captured the Jury Prize in 2018. The film went on towin Lee an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.Christopher Polk/REX/ShutterstockHis selection is not without controversy. Lee’s personal history at the festival has been one marked with allegations of racism, political outbursts and lingering ‘we was robbed’ sentiments.In 1989 afterDo The Right Thinglost out to Steven Soderbergh’ssex, lies and videotape, Lee famously suggested that year’s Jury President “better watch out” because “somewhere deep in my closet I have a Louisville Slugger with (Wim) Wenders name on it.”Lee continued to be at the center of controversy in future appearances, using Cannes as a platform to attack the NRA over gun control and later, Clint Eastwood’s failure to depict black troops in his WWII epicLetters From Iwo Jima.Recognizing Lee’s history of stirring up controversy, the festival organizers acknowledged his “flamboyant personality is sure to shake things up”in their announcement.Additional jury members and the schedule of films will be announced in April. The festival’s 73rd edition will run from May 12 – 23.
Celebrated directorSpike Leewas announced as Jury President of upcoming Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday morning.
The choice makes Lee the first African-American selected to head the panel in the festival’s history.In a statementposted on the festival website early Tuesday morning, the Oscar-winning director said he was “honored” to be chosen for the important position.
“When I got the call…I was shocked, happy, surprised and proud all at the same time,” the director, 62, said, also acknowledging the position’s historic nature. “I’m honored to be the first person of the African diaspora (USA) to be named President of the Cannes Jury and of a main film festival.”
A longtime darling of festival organizers, Lee has been invited to show (In and Out of Competition) at the festival on seven occasions beginning with his first featureShe’s Gotta Have, which won the Youth Prize in 1986. His filmsDo The Right ThingandJungle Feverwere later shortlisted for the festival’s Palme d’Or.
His 2018 entry,BlackkKlansman, captured the Jury Prize in 2018. The film went on towin Lee an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Christopher Polk/REX/Shutterstock
His selection is not without controversy. Lee’s personal history at the festival has been one marked with allegations of racism, political outbursts and lingering ‘we was robbed’ sentiments.
In 1989 afterDo The Right Thinglost out to Steven Soderbergh’ssex, lies and videotape, Lee famously suggested that year’s Jury President “better watch out” because “somewhere deep in my closet I have a Louisville Slugger with (Wim) Wenders name on it.”
Lee continued to be at the center of controversy in future appearances, using Cannes as a platform to attack the NRA over gun control and later, Clint Eastwood’s failure to depict black troops in his WWII epicLetters From Iwo Jima.
Recognizing Lee’s history of stirring up controversy, the festival organizers acknowledged his “flamboyant personality is sure to shake things up”in their announcement.
Additional jury members and the schedule of films will be announced in April. The festival’s 73rd edition will run from May 12 – 23.
source: people.com
