The Italian actor and director Nanni Moretti has been named president of the jury for this year's Cannes film festival, which is due to be held in May.
Moretti will oversee the committee that decides the 2012 Palme d'Or winner for the first time, though he was a member of the jury in 1997 for the event's 50th anniversary. This year's Cannes is the 65th edition.
"This is a real joy, an honour and a tremendous responsibility to preside over the jury of the most prestigious festival of cinematography in the world, a festival that is held in a country where film has always been treated with interest and respect," said Moretti. "As a director, I was always very moved when my films were presented at the Festival de Cannes. I also have very happy memories of my experience as a jury member during the 50th anniversary season, and of the attentiveness and passion that went into the jury's viewing."
Moretti previously served as president of the Venice film festival in 2001. Six of his films have been shown at Cannes over the years and they have often proved popular: The Son's Room won the Palme d'Or that same year, and Moretti was named best director in 1994 for Caro diario (Dear Diary).
The festival's president, Gilles Jacob, said: "When we decided to put Ecce Bombo – a super 8 film! – into competition when I first arrived in 1978, it was because I had a premonition that Nanni Moretti would soon become NANNI MORETTI. This is what happened and I am so gratified to have had this long and affectionate collaboration."
Thierry Frémaux, the festival's artistic director, added: "The festival wanted to celebrate its 65th season with a European jury president. High-spirited and marked by his modernity and intelligence, Nanni Moretti's films are the incarnation of all the best in cinema over the past 30 years. His work is always evolving and continues to carry the promise of film that engages with the world and with our times."
The Cannes film festival takes place this year between 16 and 27 of May.
Meanwhile, the Rome festival yesterday said it was delaying a decision on the appointment of a new artistic director until next week, with insiders continuing to suggest that ousted Venice boss Marco Mueller will be parachuted in to take over.
Mueller was at the centre of reports last month that he was removed from the top job at the world's oldest film festival in a political shakeup after technocratic prime minister Mario Monti took power in Italy. He looks set to replace magazine editor Piera Detassis at Rome following eight highly successful years on the Lido.
