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Alejandro González Iñárritu Named Cannes Jury President

He will be the first Mexican artist to chair the panel.
Alejandro González Iñárritu
Alejandro González Iñárritu, cineasta mexicano.Getty Images / Getty Images

PARIS (AP) — Award-winning Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu will preside over the jury at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival in May.

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Festival president Pierre Lescure, announcing the choice on Wednesday, praised Iñárritu — the first Mexican to be given the honor — as a "daring filmmaker ... full of surprises" and an "artist of his time." Iñárritu said in the statement that "this is a true delight and a responsibility that we will assume with passion and devotion."

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The Cannes festival, he said, is the heart of world cinema. Iñárritu won best director Oscar for "The Revenant" in 2016 and "Birdman" in 2015, among numerous awards.

Cate Blanchett served as jury president last year when the Palme d'Or, the top prize, was awarded to "Shoplifters" by Japanese director Kore-eda Hirokazu.

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