The press conference of the members of the jury is a must that traditionally takes place at the beginning of the festival, before the members of the jury cut communications with the press and the media until the revelation of the winners.
President of the jury this year, Ruben Östlund, twice awarded the Palme d'Or, was no exception to the rule. To the question: "What was your reaction when you were asked to become president of the Cannes jury this year?", the director of The Square and Sans Filtre answered very naturally: "I was super happy! Afterwards, I told myself that it was happening ten years too early. I even asked for a day of reflection before deciding..."
Cannes Film Festival jury president Ruben Östlund and his jurors, French actor Denis Menochet, Paul Dano, director Atiq Rahimi and Argentine director Damian Szifron, Tuesday in Cannes. VALERY HACHE / AFP
Actor-director Paul Dano does not hide his joy, speaking of this proposal "as a gift whose packaging is feverishly undone", while adding that his wife had told him: "You have to do it!" Comedian Denis Ménochet, direct and goguenard, said he was "repainting his windows" when the phone rang. "I missed my painting, but it doesn't matter, because it's a huge honor to be part of this jury. It's a bit like going back to a big school. I am no longer an actor here, but a spectator..."
However, a shadow darkened this light moment. Brie Larson was questioned on the case of the moment, the first of the fortnight: was the Oscar-winning actress going to see the film of Maïwenn and Johnny Depp, broadcast at the opening, while the director is accused of assault and her actor still embarrassed by his business with his ex-wife Amber Heard? "Are you asking me that? Why me? I do not understand the meaning of your question... ", replied the juror, visibly taken aback, before specifying: "Your question is curious, but yes, I will go see the film."
The other topical question, this time posed to Ruben Östlund, concerns the various social and trade union movements that could disrupt the festival. "These potential events are part of the tradition of the festival," he replied. I remember in the 1960s, the same thing happened at the festival. In 1968, the revolution of May-68 had moved from Paris to Cannes..." And when the Swedish director is asked if he prefers to receive a Palme d'Or or an Oscar, he quipped: "I'd rather have three Palmes d'Or than an Oscar!"
Julia Ducournau, speaking about the responsibility of a jury to award such an award to a filmmaker, said: "We were talking about it yesterday with Ruben Östlund, awarding a Palme d'Or is a real life changer for a filmmaker. It's not just something honorary, it's a colossal springboard. We have a responsibility. There's a weight in that, and I fully realize that."