Leïla Bekhti Takes Helm as President of Un Certain Regard Jury at Cannes
Renowned French actress Leïla Bekhti has been appointed as the President of the prestigious Un Certain Regard Jury at the Cannes Film Festival.
Bekhti will be accompanied by a diverse group of industry professionals including Senegalese producer Angèle Diabang, Lebanese composer Khaled Mouzanar, Italian filmmaker Laura Samani, and French director Thomas Cailley.
She succeeds UK filmmaker Molly Manning Walker, who led the jury in 2025. During her tenure, the jury honored Chilean director Diego Céspedes with the Un Certain Regard Prize for his first film, The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo.
Bekhti expressed her anticipation and honor in leading the jury, “As Jury President for the first time, I am excited to embrace the roles of observer and participant in celebrating cinematic art. My career has shown me that films are not just entertainment, but also a means to connect with others and the broader world,” she stated.
She further shared her enthusiasm about the collaborative nature of the festival, “Joining hands with a jury to discover new films is a responsibility I cherish deeply. I look forward to the rich discussions and diverse viewpoints that define this dynamic art form. Being a part of the audience, ultimately, is the most rewarding position of all,” Bekhti remarked.
Bekhti first gained major recognition for her role in Jacques Audiard’s A Prophet in 2009. Her subsequent works include notable films such as Gilles Lellouche’s Sink or Swim (2018), Joachim Lafosse’s The Restless (2021), and Kheiron’s All Three of Us (2015). More recent projects include Perfect Nanny (2019), Jeanne Herry’s All Your Faces (2023), and Ken Scott’s upcoming Once Upon My Mother (2025). She will also feature in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s forthcoming movie Changer l’eau des fleurs.
The 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, which will kick off with the film Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, is scheduled to run from May 12 through May 23.
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