After bringing last year’s Julieta to Cannes Film Festival, and numerous other films, Pedro Almodóvar will return to the festival this year. However, it won’t be with a new film, rather the Spanish director will preside over the jury, taking up the distinction that George Miller held last year.
“I am very happy to be able to celebrate the Festival de Cannes 70th anniversary from such a privileged position,” the director says. “I am grateful, honoured and a bit overwhelmed. I am aware of the responsibility that entails being the president of the jury and I hope to be up to the job. I can only tell that I’ll devote myself, body and soul, to this task, that it is both a privilege and a pleasure.”
Along with the announcement, we have a recent 80-minute masterclass from the director when he stopped by BFI last fall to promote his latest film. He discusses the original iteration of the film, which would have starred Meryl Streep, his use of color, and more. Check out the full talk below.
Cannes Film Festival 2017 runs from May 17-28.