Ruben Ostlund Rejects Boredom and Embraces Wild
The acclaimed filmmaker, Ruben Östlund, known for his provocative satires on contemporary art and the ultra-wealthy, has been awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or twice at the Cannes Film Festival. Interestingly, Östlund had reservations about taking on the position of jury president initially. However, he has discovered that the role has been a transformative experience, granting him the opportunity to engage directly with some of the most fascinating directors from around the globe. The impact of Ruben Östlund Cannes presence cannot be overstated, as he continues to push the boundaries of the festival’s mainstream.
As he kicked off the festival on Tuesday with the premiere of Jeanne de Barry, a lavish period drama featuring Johnny Depp in his most vivid role yet, Ostlund struck a defiant note about the future of cinema. He positioned Cannes as a stronghold of community in a fracturing age and pledged to remind his colleagues that film serves a social function.
He joins a jury that includes Paul Dano and Brie Larson, Titane director Julia Ducournau; I Am Not a Witch breakout Rungano Nyoni and Argentine filmmaker Damian Szifron. He will oversee 21 films in competition and several movies in the Un Certain Regard sidebar.
