Greta Gerwig appointed as the Cannes Jury President for 2024

Greta Gerwig is set to make her presence felt at the Croisette.

The director of "Barbie," recently nominated for Best Director at the Golden Globes (with her blockbuster adaptation earning a remarkable 9 nominations), has been officially announced as the Jury President for the 2024 Cannes International Film Festival.

Describing Gerwig as a "heroine of our modern times," Cannes acknowledged her role in challenging the established norms of the film industry during a time that calls for increased scrutiny.

Yesterday, an ambassador of independent American cinema; today, at the pinnacle of worldwide box office success, Greta Gerwig adeptly reconciles what was once deemed incompatible: delivering arthouse blockbusters, bridging the gap between art and industry, exploring contemporary feminist issues with both skill and depth, and declaring her ambitious artistic vision within an economic model she embraces to better effect.

Whether in her roles as an actor, writer, or director, Gerwig's artistic pursuits consistently feature recurring themes, including family upheaval, rites of passage during adolescence, the fear of losing social status, and the emergence of artistic vocation through characters who are free, at times fragile and marginal, yet fiercely independent.

In her role as Cannes Jury President, Gerwig is set to make history as the first American female director to take on the position. She follows in the footsteps of Jane Campion in 2014, becoming only the second female director and the second American woman (after actress Olivia de Haviland in 1965) to assume the prestigious role.

This choice is evident as Greta Gerwig boldly embodies the revitalization of global cinema, for which Cannes serves annually as both a trailblazer and a sounding board, commented Cannes Festival President Iris Knobloch and Artistic Director Thierry Frémaux. They highlighted that, in addition to her filmmaking prowess, Gerwig also represents an era that is dismantling barriers and blending genres, thereby elevating the values of intelligence and humanism.

Despite the acclaim, this marks Gerwig's inaugural appearance on the Cannes red carpet in an official capacity, as none of her films as a director have premiered at the French festival.

Expressing her enthusiasm, Gerwig stated, I adore films – creating them, attending them, discussing them. As a cinephile, Cannes has always epitomized the zenith of the universal language of movies. Being in the space of vulnerability, in a dark theater filled with strangers, watching a brand-new film is my favorite place to be. I am astonished, thrilled, and humbled to serve as the president of the Cannes Film Festival Jury. I eagerly anticipate the journeys that await all of us!

Gerwig's journey in the film industry has led her both in front of and behind the camera. Beginning as an actor and screenwriter, she co-wrote "Hannah Takes the Stairs" (2007) with Joe Swanberg and collaborated on "Frances Ha" (2012) and "Mistress America" (2015) with partner Noah Baumbach, all while playing starring roles. Her directorial debut came with the breakout hit "Lady Bird" in 2017, where she earned 5 Oscar nominations, including one for Best Directing. "Lady Bird" grossed nearly $80 million worldwide, solidifying Gerwig's place in the film industry.

In 2019, she followed up with a fresh adaptation of the period classic "Little Women" for Sony, which became a bona fide crossover hit, earning $218 million worldwide and establishing Gerwig among the top tier of studio directors.

However, the colossal success of "Barbie" in 2023, a pink-tinged tentpole starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, exceeded all expectations. It emerged as the biggest hit of the year, grossing over $1.4 billion and dominating the awards season. Cannes described Gerwig in its announcement as "an international cultural phenomenon" and "the most bankable female film director in history."

The 77th Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to run from May 14 to May 25, 2024.