Renowned Canadian filmmaker Xavier Dolan has been named as the President of the Jury for the Un Certain Regard section at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Dolan, a self-taught writer and director, rose to prominence with his feature debut "I Killed My Mother" at the young age of 19. This film, based on Dolan's original short story, was selected to represent Canada at the Academy Awards.
Dolan's association with Cannes dates back to 2010 when his sophomore feature "Heartbeats" marked his initial entry into the prestigious Un Certain Regard program. Expressing his gratitude and excitement, Dolan stated, "I am humbled and delighted to return to Cannes as President of the Un Certain Regard Jury. Discovering the work of talented filmmakers has always been at the very heart of both my personal and professional journeys."
The 2024 Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to take place from May 14 to 25, with Greta Gerwig, director of "Barbie," presiding over the Jury. The official selection for the festival will be announced on April 11.
Throughout his career, Dolan has received consistent recognition at Cannes. His film "Laurence Anyways" earned Suzanne Clément the Best Actress title in Un Certain Regard, before she starred in Dolan's acclaimed film "Mommy," which tied for the Jury Prize. Dolan has also served on Cannes juries and presented several films at the festival, including "It’s Only the End of the World" and "Matthias & Maxime."
However, Dolan declined to attend the 2018 Cannes Film Festival with his English-language feature "The Death and Life of John F. Donovan," citing last-minute developments and a belief that Cannes was not the ideal premiere venue.
In a 2022 interview, Dolan hinted at the possibility of retirement and expressed dissatisfaction with contemporary filmmaking, stating, "I don’t really want to do this job anymore. I’m tired. We are in 2022, and the world has changed drastically." Despite these sentiments, Dolan debuted the TV series "Night Logan Woke Up" at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.
Xavier Dolan's appointment as President of the 2024 Cannes Un Certain Regard Jury underscores his enduring impact on the international film scene and his continued dedication to championing emerging talent.
Photo by Georges Biard
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