Cannes: French-Moroccan writer and novelist Lela Slimani has been announced as a member of the Jury for the 78th Cannes Film Festival, set to take place from May 13 to 24, as revealed by the festival organizers on Monday. The Jury is tasked with awarding the prestigious Palme d’Or (Golden Palm) to one of the 21 films in competition this year, following the presentation of Sean Baker’s “Anora” by Greta Gerwig’s Jury in 2024.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the Jury this year will be chaired by renowned French actress Juliette Binoche. Joining her are American actress and filmmaker Halle Berry, Indian director and screenwriter Payal Kapadia, and Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher. The panel is further complemented by Congolese director and producer Dieudo Hamadi, Korean director and screenwriter Hong Sangsoo, Mexican director and producer Carlos Reygadas, and American actor Jeremy Strong.

The festival will conclude with the announcement of the winners during the closing ceremony on May 24. Lela Slimani, who gained recognition with her debut novel “In the Garden of the Ogre” in 2014, has received numerous accolades, including the 2016 Prix Goncourt. Her participation in the Cannes Jury adds to her growing influence in the cultural arena.