Leïla Bekhti has been named President of the Un Certain Regard Jury at the 79th Festival de Cannes, taking over the role following British filmmaker Molly Manning Walker.
She will lead a diverse panel that includes Senegalese producer Angèle Diabang, Lebanese composer Khaled Mouzanar, Italian director Laura Samani, and French director Thomas Cailley.
The jury will be responsible for selecting winners within the Un Certain Regard section, a category known for highlighting emerging voices, auteur-driven storytelling, and new cinematic discoveries.
Bekhti, an acclaimed French actress, expressed enthusiasm about the role, describing it as an opportunity to engage in dialogue, share perspectives, and experience films from the audience’s seat while embracing the responsibility that comes with the position.
Last year, Chilean filmmaker Diego Céspedes took home the Un Certain Regard Prize for his debut feature, The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo, setting a high bar for this year’s competition.
The 79th Festival de Cannes is scheduled to run from May 12 to May 23, 2026.
