Festival Circuit

Being a juror for the Competition Section of the Cannes Film Festival is quite the honor. It is perhaps second only to an Oscar nomination in terms of industry prestige and clout. But let’s remember that it is not simply red carpet appearances and having one too many glasses of French champagne at all-night beach orgies. Jurors must view all the films in the Shorts and Features competition titles, which run to more than 30 films total. And then there is the inevitable debate to determine the winners. With such an eclectic group representing different sensibilities and cultures and Robert De Niro (“Are you talking to ME?????) as the Jury President, it would be great to be a fly in the wall when discussions get a little heated.

To wrap your head around the ensemble who will determine the next set of Cannes Film Festival awards on Saturday, May 21 (and inevitably change the lives of the honorees), they are:

 Robert DE NIRO: Jury President

Actor/Producer/Director/Tribeca Film Founder (USA)

 Olivier ASSAYAS

Film Director (France)

Martina GUSMAN

Actress and Producer (Argentina)

Mahamat Saleh HAROUN

Film Director (Chad)

Jude LAW

Actor and Producer (UK)

 Nansun SHI

Producer (Hong Kong/China)

 Uma THURMAN

Actress/Screenwriter/Producer (USA)

 Johnnie TO

Director and Producer (Hong Kong/China)

 Linn ULLMANN

Writer and Literary Critic (Norway)

 Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Circuit Editor