Mexican double-Oscar winning director to head Cannes jury

With 5 of the last 6 Best Director Oscars going to Mexicans, the country’s film-making is world-leading and in recognition of this, one of the most prestigious global film festivals has picked one of these directors to head this year’s jury.

Alejandro González Iñárritu, celebrating his Oscar nomination for Biutiful in 2011

The panel to select this year’s Palme d’Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival will be led by The Revenant and Birdman director, Alejandro González Iñárritu.

The festival organisers said the decision would celebrate Mexican cinema. In a statement, they said “Not only is he a daring filmmaker and a director who is full of surprises, Alejandro is also a man of conviction, an artist of his time.”

Having previously screened films at Cannes, Iñárritu said he was “humbled and thrilled to return”, with the “immense honour” of presiding over the jury. “Cinema runs through the veins of the planet and this festival has been its heart,” he said.

The 71st Cannes Film Festival will run from 15-25 May.