Cannes, France – May 8, 2026 – Quebec actress, director, and screenwriter Monia Chokri has been named the President of the Caméra d’Or jury for the 79th Cannes Film Festival. Chokri, known for her distinctive and contemporary approach to filmmaking, will lead a four-member jury in selecting the best directorial debut from across the Official Selection, Critics’ Week, and Director’s Fortnight. The winner will be announced during the Closing Ceremony on Saturday, May 23.
Chokri expressed her enthusiasm for the role, stating, “A debut film is a dizzying experience, a defining moment when the soul seeks its form in images. It is a second birth — the awakening of the artist within. An act of truth, it exposes our fragility. And the more the film reveals itself to the world, the more power it gains. It is the rare freedom of being fully oneself.” This sentiment underscores her artistic philosophy, which often explores themes of freedom and challenges societal norms through imperfect yet relatable characters.
Her work is characterized by a highly contemporary and deconstructed approach to universal themes, marked by shifting tones, flawless soundtracks, and dynamic editing. Chokri’s directorial career began in 2013 with the short film An Extraordinary Person, which garnered international acclaim. She followed this with two critically acclaimed feature films: *A Brother’s Love* (2019), which explored family dynamics and pressures on women, and Babysitter (2022), addressing themes of domination and contemporary misogyny. Her third feature, *The Nature of Love*, presented in the Un Certain Regard section in 2023, solidified her reputation, earning the César Award for Best Foreign Film the following year. This delicate romance, set against a polished 1970s aesthetic, thoughtfully examines romantic love and class relations.
Beyond her directorial achievements, Chokri is also an accomplished actress, with notable roles in Xavier Dolan’s Heartbeats and Laurence Anyways, as well as Anna Cazenave Cambet’s Love Me Tender. She is set to return to the screen at this year’s Festival in Géraldine Nakache’s new film, Think Good, to be presented in the Cannes’ Première section.
The Caméra d’Or Jury Members:
Monia Chokri will be joined by four distinguished members representing various cinematic associations:
Monia CHOKRI** – Actress, director & screenwriter (Canada)
Michel BENJAMIN (AFC) – Director of Photography (France)
Cédric COPPOLA (SFCC) – Film Critic (France)
Marine FRANCEN (SRF) – Director & screenwriter (France)
Christophe MASSIE (FICAM) – Deputy CEO of Eclair by Netgem (France)
The 79th Festival de Cannes is scheduled to run from Tuesday, May 12, to Saturday, May 23, 2026.
By Cem Kaplan