Park Chan-wook to head Cannes jury

Feb 27, 2026, 07:29 am

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Director Park Chan-wook has been appointed president of the Competition jury at the 79th Cannes International Film Festival. / Courtesy of CJ ENM, Festival de Cannes / Graphic by Park Jong-gyu

Director Park Chan-wook has been appointed president of the Competition jury at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first Korean filmmaker to lead the festival’s main jury.

The Cannes Film Festival announced the appointment on Tuesday (local time), praising Park for his “ability to captivate audiences, his originality and his remarkable sensitivity in portraying the complex impulses of men and women in unusual circumstances,” which have left an indelible mark on contemporary cinema.

Responding to the news, Park said, “In an era of hatred and division, I believe that the act of watching films together in a movie theater can move hearts and create a sense of universal solidarity.”

Park is the first Korean filmmaker to serve as president of the Competition jury. Among Asian directors, he is the first since Wong Kar-wai was appointed two decades ago.

Park has long-standing ties with Cannes. He won the Grand Prix in 2004 for Oldboy, followed by the Jury Prize for Thirst in 2009 and Best Director for Decision to Leave in 2022. His repeated successes at Cannes have earned him the nickname “Cannes Park” among Korean filmmakers.

Film critic Jeon Chan-il described the appointment as clear recognition by Cannes that Park is “one of the greatest living masters of our time.” He added that after several years in which Korean films were less prominent at the festival, Park’s leadership could provide renewed momentum for Korean cinema in the competition section.

The 79th Cannes Film Festival will be held from May 12 to 23 in the southern French city of Cannes.

#Park Chan-wook #Cannes Film Festival #Wong Kar-wai