Actors Nicole Kidman and Christoph Waltz and directors Ang Lee, Lynne Ramsay and Cristian Mungiu will join Steven Spielberg on the Cannes Film Festival jury, Cannes organizers announced on Wednesday morning in Paris.
Others on the heavyweight panel include Indian actress Vidya Balan, Japanese director Naomi Kawase and French actor/director Daniel Auteuil.
The nine-person jury, one of the most impressive (and English-heavy) in years, will be presided over by Spielberg, whose participation was previously announced by the festival.
The jury's awards will be announced on May 26, the closing night of a festival that kicks off on May 15. Films in contention for the top prize include Alexander Payne's "Nebraska," Roman Polanski's "Venus in Furs," the Coen Brothers' "Inside Llewyn Davis" and Steven Soderbergh's HBO movie "Behind the Candelabra."
The Cannes press release, with its curious English (and curious spelling of Mr. Waltz's first name) intact:
"It is a sparkling Jury that will be presided over by American director and producer Steven Spielberg. Eight international movie personalities of very high level will help him award the Prizes. They are all engaged and active in several creation spheres.
Vidya Balan (Indian actress)
Naomi Kawase (Japanese director)
Nicole Kidman (Australian actress/producer)
Lynne Ramsay (British scriptwriter/director/producer)
Daniel Auteuil (French actor/director)
Ang Lee (Taiwanese director/producer/scriptwriter)
Cristian Mungiu (Romanian scriptwriter/director/producer)
Christopher Waltz (Austrian Actor)
"The Jury of the 66th Festival de Cannes will have to decide between the films in Competition to award the Prizes which will be announced during the Closing Ceremony on May 26th-the Palme d’Or being the highlight of the Ceremony."
