Greta Gerwig, whose latest film “Barbie” grossed $1.4 billion at the global box office this year and just received nine Golden Globe nominations, will head the jury at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
Gerwig has been to Cannes before with her partner Noah Baumbach, most notably in 2017 when his “The Meyerowitz Stories” premiered, but she has never presented a film there. At the beginning of the year there were initial discussions about bringing “Barbie” to Cannes, but the timing wasn’t right. The Warner Bros. film was released in theaters on July 19th and became an instant classic and the highest grossing film of the year worldwide. “Barbie” is expected to not only top the Golden Globe nominations, but also receive numerous Oscar nominations. Variety's Clayton Davis said the film is a rare blockbuster with a chance at the Best Picture award.
“I love films – I love making them, I love watching them, I love talking about them. As a film lover, Cannes has always been the pinnacle of what the universal language of film can be,” Gerwig said in a statement. “My favorite place is to be in a place of vulnerability, in a dark cinema full of strangers, watching a brand new film.” I am amazed, excited and honored to serve as President of the Cannes Film Festival Jury. I can’t wait to see what journeys we all have in store!”
Two-time Palme d'Or winner Ruben Ostlund (“Triangle of Sadness,” “The Square”) led the 2023 Cannes jury. Gerwig will be the first American director to take on the role of jury president at the Cannes Film Festival. At 40, she is also the youngest person to take on the role since Sophia Loren, who was 31 when she headed the Cannes jury in 1966. Other notable female jury presidents include Jane Campion in 2014 and Olivia de Havilland, the Cannes jury. 1965 first female jury president.
“This is an obvious choice since Greta Gerwig so boldly embodies the renewal of world cinema for which Cannes is both a pioneer and a sounding board every year,” said Cannes President Iris Knobloch and General Delegate Thierry Frémaux. “Beyond the seventh art, she is also representative of an era that breaks down barriers, blends genres, and thereby highlights the values of intelligence and humanism,” they continued.
Greta Gerwig started out as an actress and made her breakthrough as a solo director in 2017 with “Lady Bird”. She became the fifth woman to be nominated for the Best Director category and the film received a total of five Oscar nominations. Her next film, Little Women, was also a critical hit and was nominated for five Academy Awards for Best Costume Design. With “Barbie,” Gerwig became the most bankable director in history.
The 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will take place from May 14th to 25th.