Written by Kianna Best on Apr 29, 2025. Posted in Awards and Festivals

Cannes 2025: A Jury Rooted in Legacy and Industry Influence

As the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival prepares to unfurl its red carpet this May, the spotlight is firmly on its jury—a handpicked group of international talent with deep roots in the cinematic ecosystem. Presided over by the iconic Juliette Binoche, this year’s panel brings together filmmakers, performers, and storytellers whose influence spans continents and disciplines, many of whom return to the Croisette not as contenders, but as arbiters of excellence.

Image courtesy of Cannes Festival du Film

Binoche’s appointment is as symbolic as it is strategic. Her first appearance at Cannes came 40 years ago in André Téchiné’s Rendez-vous, a film that helped launch her now globally renowned career. Since then, she has returned in numerous capacities, including her award-winning turn in Abbas Kiarostami’s Certified Copy. In recent years, Binoche has also become a prominent voice in climate and humanitarian advocacy—aligning with the festival’s increasingly engaged posture on global issues. For Cannes, her presidency not only lends gravitas but affirms its continuing commitment to cinema that challenges as much as it entertains.

The rest of the jury is no less accomplished. American actress and filmmaker Halle Berry, long overdue for formal recognition on the European festival circuit, joins the panel with both star wattage and directorial experience. Though her directorial debut Bruised premiered at TIFF, Berry’s pivot toward auteur-driven projects signals a realignment that fits well with Cannes’ artistic ethos.

Alongside her is Jeremy Strong, a fixture of prestige television thanks to his Emmy-winning performance in Succession. While Strong’s recent work suggests a turn toward art-house and international collaborations, his inclusion also reflects the ongoing cross-pollination between high-end television and the cinematic arts.

Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia exemplifies the kind of emerging talent Cannes prides itself on discovering. Her 2021 documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing, which took home L'Oeil d’or, was a breakout moment for politically conscious South Asian cinema on the global stage. Her elevation to the jury is not just recognition—it’s investment in the future of socially engaged filmmaking.

Italy’s Alba Rohrwacher returns to Cannes in a new role after more than a decade of frequent appearances in competition and sidebar programs alike. Her sustained collaborations with auteurs such as Alice Rohrwacher and Marco Bellocchio have made her a mainstay of the European art-house circuit.

Congolese documentarian Dieudo Hamadi and French-Moroccan author Leïla Slimani further expand the jury’s multidisciplinary reach. Hamadi, whose work has been featured across Cannes’ parallel sections, is known for films that engage with institutional and political breakdowns, while Slimani’s critical success as a novelist and journalist offers an analytical lens on narrative construction—an asset in evaluating the festival’s most ambitious entries.

No Cannes jury would be complete without the quiet gravitas of veteran filmmakers. South Korea’s Hong Sang-soo, a prolific presence at Cannes for over two decades, brings deep festival pedigree and a rigorous, often improvisational approach to storytelling. Joining him is Carlos Reygadas, whose uncompromising visual style and philosophical inquiries into modern life have earned him Jury Prize honours and a loyal following among festival programmers.

Together, these jurors represent more than artistic diversity; they embody Cannes’ strategic position within the global content marketplace. As the theatrical sector continues its post-pandemic realignment, Cannes is once again staking its claim as the world’s premier launchpad for bold, globally relevant cinema. With Juliette Binoche at the helm and a jury steeped in both legacy and innovation, this year’s awards will carry a resonance that extends far beyond the Palais.