The 76th Cannes Film Festival is less than 12 weeks away and while rumors are flying about what films will screen and which films won’t, an important step in the process has officially taken place. The 2023 edition of the festival now has its Jury President. In something of a surprise, Ruben Östlund, who just won his second Palme d’Or for “Triangle of Sadness” in 2022, will take the reins of the jury with the prestigious appointment.
READ MORE: Ruben Östlund recorded his ‘Triangle’ Oscar Nomination reaction but… [Interview]
In a statement, Östlund remarked, “I am happy, proud, and humbled to be trusted with the honor of Jury president for this year’s Competition at the Festival de Cannes. Nowhere in the film world is the anticipation as strong as when the curtain rises on the films in Competition at the Festival. It is a privilege to be part of it, together with the Cannes audience of connoisseurs. I am sincere when I say that cinema culture is in its most important period ever. The cinema has a unique aspect – there, we watch together, and it demands more on what is shown and increases the intensity of the experience. It makes us reflect in a different way than when we dopamine scroll in front of the individual screens.”
He added, “As President, I will remind my colleagues in the Jury about the social function of the cinema. A good movie relates to the collective experience, stimulates us to think, and makes us want to discuss what we have seen – So let’s watch together!”
Following Vincent Lindon last year, and Spike Lee and Alejandro González Iñárritu the previous two years (Lee returned after the 2020 festival was canceled due to COVID), Östlund will be the fourth male jury president in a row. The last female jury head was Cate Blanchett in 2018.
Östlund already has a long and storied history on la Croisette. The Swedish filmmaker has premiered five of his six features at Cannes including “Involuntary” in 2008 (Un Certain Regard), “Play” in 2011 (Director’s Fortnight), and “Force Majure” in 2014 (Un Certain Regard Jury Prize). His first film in competition, “The Square,” won the Palme d’Or in 2017. Five years later he returned to the festival with “Triangle of Sadness.” Following that Palme win, Östlund joined a club of just nine (ten if you count each Dardenne brother) to win the Palme d’Or more than once.
“The Square” was chosen as Sweden’s Oscar entry for 2018 and was nominated in the International Film category. Östlund earned two individual Oscar nominations for “Triangle” including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. “Triangle” also won four prestigious European Film Awards including the top prize, European Film.
When Cannes made the official announcement, Östlund was in Los Angeles directing a staged reading of “Triangle” to benefit Film Independent. The reading included actors Fred Armisen, Nicholas Braun, Alison Brie, Tia Carrere, Ayo Edebiri, and Brett Goldstein.
The official selection will be announced sometime in April.
The 76th Cannes Film Festival will run between Tuesday, May 16, and Saturday, May 27.