The Cannes Film Festival has chosen its next leader. South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook will serve as the Jury President for the 79th edition of the festival, which runs from May 12 to May 23, 2026.
Park takes over from last year’s president, Juliette Binoche. His appointment is a milestone, marking the first time a Korean filmmaker has held the position. He joins a small group of Asian presidents that includes Wong Kar-wai and Tetsurō Furukaki.
Festival President Iris Knobloch and Director Thierry Frémaux praised the director’s “visual mastery” and his ability to capture “strange destinies” on screen. They noted that his work has provided some of the most memorable moments in modern cinema.
A History of Success at Cannes
Park is no stranger to the Palais des Festivals. His history with Cannes goes back to 2004, when his breakout hit Oldboy took home the Grand Prix. Since that debut, he has been a frequent winner at the event.
His 2009 vampire thriller Thirst won the Jury Prize, and he earned the Best Director award in 2022 for Decision to Leave. Other acclaimed entries include The Handmaiden (2016) and his most recent project, No Other Choice (2025).
The festival drew parallels between Park and legendary filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and David Fincher. They highlighted his “formal beauty” and “moral rigor,” qualities that have defined his career since he was first inspired to become a director after seeing Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo.
Read more: Park Chan-wook at the BFI IMAX: The Director on Paper, Power, and the Body in the Bonsai Wire
In a statement regarding his new role, Park focused on the communal power of watching movies. He described the theater as a place where “our souls may be liberated through the window of film.”
“In this age of mutual hatred and division, I believe that the simple act of gathering in a theater to watch a single film together, our breaths and heartbeats aligning, is itself a moving and universal expression of solidarity,” Park said.
He admitted that he looks forward to the “voluntary confinement” of the jury room, where he will debate the merits of the world’s best new films with his fellow jurors.
South Korea’s Global Influence
The decision to appoint Park also signals the festival’s long-standing admiration for South Korean cinema. The country has a rich history at Cannes, from Im Kwon-taek’s Best Director win in 2002 to Bong Joon-ho’s historic Palme d’Or for Parasite in 2019.
Acting talent from the region has also been recognized, with Jeon Do-yeon winning Best Actress and Song Kang-ho winning Best Actor in past years. The official film lineup for the 2026 festival will be announced in mid-April.
