The jury will be in charge of awarding prizes for the Un Certain Regard sidebar.
Canadian actor and filmmaker Xavier Dolan will preside over the Un Certain Regard Jury at the 77th Festival de Cannes. Joining him are esteemed figures including French-Senegalese director Maïmouna Doucouré, Moroccan filmmaker Asmae El Moudir, German-Luxembourgish actress Vicky Krieps, and American critic Todd McCarthy. This diverse panel will be responsible for recognising outstanding achievements in the Un Certain Regard section, which showcases emerging talent in cinema.
The Un Certain Regard lineup for this year features 18 films, including eight debut features. When the Light Breaks by Rúnar Rúnarsson will open the Un Certain Regard section on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
Asmae El Moudir, a graduate of the Moroccan University and La Fémis in Paris, has made a significant mark in the world of cinema. Known for her award-winning short films, she ventured into documentary filmmaking with The Postcard, produced for Al Jazeera in 2020.
Her debut independent documentary feature, The Mother of All Lies, premiered at the 2023 Festival de Cannes, where it earned acclaim and accolades, including the Un Certain Regard Directing Prize and the Golden Eye for Best Documentary. The film has been showcased at prestigious festivals worldwide, garnering over 25 awards. El Moudir’s achievements extend to nominations for esteemed honours such as the PGA Award and the Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary. Recently, she was honoured with the IDA Award for Best Director. Notably, The Mother of All Lies was shortlisted for the international features section of the 2024 Oscars, cementing El Moudir’s status as a formidable talent in the documentary genre.
Maïmouna Doucouré’s filmmaking journey is marked by remarkable achievements. Her debut professional short film, Maman(s), received widespread acclaim, being selected for nearly 200 festivals worldwide and winning over 60 awards, including the Jury Prize at Sundance, the Best Film Award in Toronto, and the 2017 César for Best Short Film.
In recognition of her talent, Doucouré was honoured with the Gold Fellowship Award from the Academy of Motion Pictures in 2019. Her first feature film, Cuties, released in 2020, earned her the Best Director Award at Sundance and a Special Mention from the International Generation Jury in Berlin. The lead actress, Fathia Youssouf, received the César for Best Actress for her role in the film. Doucouré’s second feature-length film, Hawa, produced in 2022 with Prime Vidéo, was also showcased in Toronto. Currently, she is immersed in her next feature film project centred around the legendary Joséphine Baker, showcasing her ongoing commitment to storytelling and cinematic excellence.
