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| Heading this year’s Un Certain Regard jury in Cannes: Xavier Dolan: 'Discovering the work of talented filmmakers has always been at the very heart of both my personal and professional journeys' Photo: Richard Mowe |
Quebec’s directorial wunderkind Xavier Dolan will preside over the jury for Un Certain Regard sidebar at this year’s 77th Cannes Film Festival.
It was only ten years ago when the 33-year-old received the Jury Prize for Mommy at the festival.
He admitted to looking forward to celebrating "the thirst for discovery and passion for others’ talent".
He added: "I am humbled and delighted to return to Cannes as President of the Un Certain Regard Jury. Even more than making films myself, discovering the work of talented filmmakers has always been at the very heart of both my personal and professional journeys.
"I see, in this responsibility I'm assigned, the opportunity to focus with the members of the Un Certain Regard Jury on an essential aspect of the art of film: stories told truthfully."
Dolan who was self-taught, wrote, directed, produced and starred in his first feature film, I Killed My Mother, at 19, adapted from a short story he had written a few years earlier.
In 2010 he presented Heartbeats, making his first appearance in Un Certain Regard when he was just 21.
Two years later, Laurence Anyways, which premiered in Un Certain Regard, won the section’s award for Best Actress ex-aequo for Suzanne Clément. His first award in Cannes highlighted Dolan's "delicate sense for directing actors and actresses, with whom he has developed loyal, intense collaborations”, according to the festival organisers.
in 2014 Mommy his fifth feature, and his first in the Cannes Competition, depicted a single mother's difficulties in raising her son for which he received the Jury Award (tied with Jean-Luc Godard’s Goodbye To Language) from New Zealand director Jane Campion. The following year Dolan joined the Jury chaired by the Coen brothers at the 68th Festival de Cannes.
With It's Only the End of the World, an adaptation of Jean-Luc Lagarce's play, he was awarded the Grand Prix at the 69th Cannes Film Festival.
His fascination with acting can also be found in his next two films. The Death And Life of John F Donovan is the story of a young boy's correspondence with his favourite actor, and Matthias & Maxime, presented in Competition in 2019.
He has played a few notable roles for other filmmakers, including Xavier Giannoli's Lost Illusions, which earned him a nomination for the César Award for Best Supporting Actor. In 2022, Xavier Dolan then directed his first TV series, The Night Logan Woke Up.
As already announced Greta Gerwig will preside over the Competition Jury of the 77th edition running from 14 to 25 May.
The Official Selection will be announced on 11 April.
