Spike Lee to chair Cannes Film festival competition

Spike Lee, photo by Nicola Goode

The Cannes Film Festival has confirmed that we will see US director Spike Lee at the Cannes festival for its 74th edition. Lee had already signaled his willingness to preside the festival competition last year. This edition will take place from 6 to 17 July 2021.

Cancelled last year because of the COVID pandemic, the Cannes Festival is said to be delighted that one of the greatest directors of his generation will take on the role and responsibilities. Lee is known for his high-profile movies that deal with the questions of our time in a resolutely contemporary form that remain entertaining.

Spike Lee’s support for the festival

“Throughout the uncertain months that have just passed, Spike Lee never stopped encouraging us. This support is finally coming to fruition and we could not have hoped for a more powerful personality to question our troubled times,” according to the festival president Pierre Lescure.

The Cannes Film Festival is planned to run from 6 to 17 July 2021 on the Croisette. The festival talks about “12 summer days [to] fervently celebrate art, creation and the long-awaited reunion”. In reality, many are still concerned about the feasibility of running it in a period that is still far from stable.

The issue is not just protecting visitors. Questions remain about whether the business is willing to risk their employee’s lives in travelling in the current crisis. In addition, several countries are still under lockdown with travel restrictions. This would limit the number of professionals that could attend.

Nonetheless, having such an accomplished and opinionated screenwriter, actor, editor and producer as Spike Lee at the Cannes festival as Jury president is promising for the quality of movies. The Official Selection and the composition of the Jury will be unveiled in early June.

Spike Lee will – hopefully – award the Palme d’Or at the end of the awards ceremony on Saturday 17 July.

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