U.S. Director Spike Lee has been named as President of the Jury for the 2020 Cannes Film Festival, organisers said on Tuesday.

The 62-year-old filmmaker, who succeeds Mexican Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, will head the panel that will award the 73rd Palme d’Or prize.

“When I got the call that I was offered the opportunity to be president of Cannes Jury for 2020, I was shocked, happy, surprised and proud all at the same time,” said Lee

“I’m honoured to be the first person of the African diaspora (USA) to be named President of the Cannes Jury and of a main film festival,” Lee said in a statement.

His latest movie “BlacKkKlansman” won the Cannes Grand Prix in 2018.

This year’s Cannes, the biggest gathering of the global movie industry, will run from May 12 till May 23.

Other members of the jury and the films on the programme will be announced mid-April.

 

 

NAN