Park Chan-wook Named President of the 2026 Cannes Jury

Overview

• Festival organizers confirmed the South Korean filmmaker as jury president, marking the first time a Korean artist holds the post.
• The 79th Festival de Cannes runs 12–23 May 2026, when Park and his jury will choose the Palme d’Or successor to Jafar Panahi’s 2025 winner.
• Festival leaders Iris Knobloch and Thierry Frémaux cited his inventiveness and visual mastery in announcing the selection.
• Park said he relishes the “double captivity” of watching and debating films, describing shared theatrical viewing as a form of universal solidarity.
• A Cannes regular, he won the Grand Prix in 2004 (Oldboy), the Jury Prize in 2009 (Thirst) and Best Director in 2022 (Decision to Leave), while his 2025 feature Aucun autre choix opened at Venice and is playing in France.