South Korean director Park Chan-wook, known for films like "Oldboy," has been named the President of the Jury for the 79th Cannes Film Festival, which will take place from May 12 to May 23, 2026. This marks the first time a South Korean has held this responsibility, symbolizing the festival's "early and deep connection with Korean cinema."
Key points
- Park Chan-wook succeeds actress Juliette Binoche, who presided over the 2025 jury.
- The jury will decide on the main prize, the Palme d'Or, to be awarded on May 23.
- The festival organizers praised his cinema as "visceral, subversive and baroque and in every respect courageous."
- Park won the Grand Prix du Jury at Cannes in 2004 for his revenge drama "Oldboy."
- The film selection for the 79th edition will be announced in April.
Why it matters
The appointment highlights the growing global influence of South Korean cinema, following other major successes like Bong Joon-ho's Palme d'Or win for "Parasite" in 2019.
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