Cate Blanchett named president of the jury

Cate Blanchett has been chosen to lead a number of actors and filmmakers in order to decide who will receive the Palme d'Or award and other festival prices in the lead-up to this year's Cannes film festival

Blanchett states that she has been to the Cannes Festival many times for in several capacities such as "as an actress, producer, in the marketplace, the gala-sphere and in competition but never solely for the sheer pleasure of watching the cornucopia of films this great festival harbours."

With over 69 acting credits on IMDB - from her role as Galadriel in the trilogy The Lord of the Rings by Peter Jackson, to Manifesto by Julian Rosefeldt - we can rest assured that Blanchett will do a marvellous job in leading the jury.

© AFP

Blanchett has recently taken part in the launching of "Time’s Up"-an initiative that fights for equality in the workplace, against sexual harassment and assault. She stood behind fellow actresses such as Salma Hayek, Kate Beckinsale, Lupita Nyong'o, to name a few, who had the courage to come forward with allegations against some of Hollywood's most influential men.

The news that Blanchett was chosen to be the next jury president of the prestigious Cannes Festival could not have come at a better time. The "Blue Jasmine" interpreter will be the twelfth woman to  lead the Cannes Festival's jury.  Blanchett will be following in the footsteps of Jane Campion, Isabelle Huppert and Liv Ullman.

Cate Blanchett as President of the Jury in Cannes 2018

This year, the festival will take place at the Côte d'Azur from the 8th-12th of May.