Coen brothers named presidents of Cannes Film Festival jury

MUMBAI: American filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen will be presiding over the jury of the 68th Festival de Cannes.

This will be the first time in the history of the Festival de Cannes, when not one but two leading figures will chair the Jury.

“We look forward to returning to Cannes this year. We welcome as always the opportunity to watch movies there from all over the world. Cannes is a festival that has been important to us since the very beginning of our career. Presiding over the Jury is a special honour, since we have never heretofore been president of anything. We will issue further proclamations at the appropriate time,” said Joel and Ethan Coen.

The brothers are currently filming the George Clooney, Christophe Lambert, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Josh Brolin and Channing Tatum starrer film Hail Caesar!

2015 is the celebration of 120 years since the invention of the Lumi?re cinematograph, and the Festival de Cannes will recognise, through the Coens, the work of all “cinema brothers” who, since Louis and Auguste Lumi?re, have enriched its history. The Festival has also had the opportunity to welcome “brothers” in a great way: like Joel and Ethan Coen who won the Palme d’or in 1991, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani received it in 1976, as well as Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne in 1998 and in 2005.

The Festival de Cannes will take place from 13-24 May, 2015. The composition of the Official Selection and the members of the Jury will be unveiled in mid-April.