Nadine is at it again, breaking barriers and raising her Lebanese flag higher on the international arena.
After her latest film Capernaum took the world by storm and was shortlisted for the Oscars, her latest achievement is nothing short of a milestone.
On Tuesday, our remarkable movie director and producer was given a jury seat at the Cannes Film Festival!
Not only that, but the prestigious festival has also named her the PRESIDENT of its Un Certain Regard (i.e. A Certain Glance) jury, making her the first Lebanese to take on this role.
Lebanese director Nadine Labaki, President of the Un Certain Regard Jury in #Cannes2019 ! At the last Festival de Cannes, her film #Capharnaüm moved the Croisette and won the Jury Prize.
— Festival de Cannes (@Festival_Cannes) March 26, 2019
More info : https://t.co/Ze6Oar9XsH@NadineLabaki #UnCertainRegard pic.twitter.com/JIGnU5v6LW
The official statement on the Cannes’ website reads:
“After moving hearts and minds at the last Festival de Cannes with her Academy Award- and Golden Globe-nominated Capernaum, which won the Jury Prize in Cannes, Lebanese director Nadine Labaki will be taking over from actor Benicio Del Toro as President of the Un Certain Regard Jury for the 72nd edition of the Festival.”
Labaki is no stranger to the French festival of Cannes. All three of her films premiered and won awards there. In 2007, her debut film Caramel premiered at the 60th Cannes Festival.
Only four years later, her second feature film Wa Halla’ La Wein (i.e. Where Do We Go Now?) was the only Lebanese and Arab film participating in Un Certain Regard and won the François Chalais Prize at the 2011 Cannes Festival.
Last year, Capernaum went on to win the coveted Jury Prize and received an impressive 15-minute standing ovation.
Nadine retweeted the announcement of the festival from her Twitter account, responding,
“I can’t wait to see the films in the Selection. I can’t wait to debate and discuss, to be shaken up, to find inspiration in other artists’ work.”
Many took the news as an inspiring example for Lebanese filmmakers, and women in particular, hailing the announcement as ‘another win’ for Labaki.
Another win for the Lebanese director ? @NadineLabakihttps://t.co/qMfnV9zjIa
— Emirates Woman (@emirateswoman) March 27, 2019
The 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival is set to launch on May 14th. The screenings of Un Certain Regard will start a day later on May 15th with our Lebanese superstar in attendance.
The winners of the section will be announced on Friday, May 24th.
Great job, Nadine! Keep them coming!
