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Park Chan-wook Named President of 2026 Cannes Jury, First From South Korea

The choice signals Cannes’ deepening ties to Korean filmmaking ahead of an April reveal of the Official Selection.

Overview

  • Festival organizers confirmed he will preside over the main competition jury for the edition running May 12–23.
  • Park becomes the first South Korean filmmaker to lead the Cannes jury in the event’s 79-year history.
  • Festival president Iris Knobloch and director Thierry Frémaux lauded his inventiveness and visual mastery in a joint statement.
  • Park said the shared act of watching films can foster solidarity, adding he looks forward to two weeks of viewing and debate with fellow jurors.
  • His Cannes record includes Oldboy (2004 Grand Prix), Thirst (2009 Jury Prize) and Decision to Leave (2022 Best Director); his recent Venice title No Other Choice made the Oscars international-feature shortlist, with the full lineup and remaining jurors due in mid-April.