[Movies] Steven Spielberg Named Jury President At Cannes Film Festival
Posted by Joseph Lee on 02.28.2013
He has a history with it...
Coming Soon reported that Steven Spielberg has been named the Jury President of the 66th annual Cannes Film Festival.
Spielberg said: "My admiration for the steadfast mission of the Festival to champion the international language of movies is second to none. The most prestigious of its kind, the festival has always established the motion picture as a cross cultural and generational medium. The memory of my first Cannes Film Festival, nearly 31 years ago with the debut of E.T., is still one of the most vibrant memories of my career. For over six decades, Cannes has served as a platform for extraordinary films to be discovered and introduced to the world for the first time. It is an honor and a privilege to preside over the jury of a festival that proves, again and again, that cinema is the language of the world."
The festival will take place between May 15-26.
Gilles Jacob, President of the Festival de Cannes, said: "As they say across the Atlantic. Steven Spielberg is a Cannes ‘regular': Sugarland Express, Color Purple. But it was with E.T. that I screened as a world premiere in ‘82 that ties were made of the type you never forget. Ever since, I've often asked Steven to be Jury President, but he's always been shooting a film. So when this year I was told "E.T., phone home", I understood and immediately replied: 'At last!'"
Thierry Fremaux, General Delegate of the Festival, added: "Steven Spielberg accepted in principle two years ago. He was able to make himself available this year to be the new Jury President and when meeting him these last few weeks it has been obvious he's excited about the job. Because of his films, and the many causes he holds dear, he's year-in year-out the equal of the very greatest Hollywood filmmakers. We are very proud to count him among us."
Spielberg has a long history with the festival. One of his early films, Sugarland Express, was selected in 1974 and won Best Screenplay. E.T. was presented as the closing film in 1982 and was the last festival screening shown in the former Palais Croisette theater.
