Steven Spielberg to head Cannes 2013 Jury

American filmmaker Steven Spielberg will preside over the Jury of the 66th Cannes Film Festival.

Spielberg’s The Sugarland Express was nominated for Palm d’Or and won the Best Screenplay prize at Cannes Film Festival in 1974. He won the Academy award for Schindler’s List (1993) and Saving Private Ryan (1998).

“As they say across the Atlantic”, said Gilles Jacob, President of the  Cannes Film Festival, “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!”

“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, Spielberg said.

Cannes Film Festival 2013 will run from May 15-26. India is the Special Guest at Cannes this year and the festival will welcome a large delegation from the Indian film industry to celebrate the centennial of Indian cinema.

Jane Campion will head the shorts and Cinefondation Jury at the festival.

 

Posted by NewsDesk on Feb 28 2013. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.