Legendary screenwriter and film producer Spike Lee has been named the Cannes International Film Festival head of the competition jury.
Organizers announced on Tuesday that Lee would be the head of this year’s jury, which will take place in France from July 6th to the 17th. He was originally asked to be the head of last year’s jury. However, the pandemic forced organizers to call off the festival.
“For 30 years, the tireless Spike Lee has been an astute chronicler of the questionings of his time, with a resolutely contemporary approach that’s never without a dash of levity and entertainment,” the Cannes festival said in a statement.
This year’s festival was originally slated for May.
Lee is ecstatic about heading the jury, stating, “It’s going to be magnifique! Book my flight now, my wife and I are coming!”
The 63-year-old is no stranger to the festival. Several of his films, including “She’s Gotta Have It,” “Do the Right Thing,” and “BlacKkKlansman,” have all premiered in Cannes. Before the festival was postponed last year, his Netflix hit, “Da 5 Bloods,” was slated to premiere at the prestigious cinema celebration.
