Pablo Trapero to head Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard jury

Pablo Trapero, the Argentinean scriptwriter, producer and director of Carancho and White Elephant, will preside over the jury for Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival (May 14-25).

The strand will compose 20 films to be announced, along with the films in Competition, at an upcoming press conference on April 17.

Trapero is no stranger to the Croisette, with his prison film Lion’s Den (Leonera) playing in Competition in 2008 and three of his features selected for Un Certain Regard: El Bonaerense (2002); Carancho (2010) and White Elephant (Elefante blanco) (2012).

He said: “I am very proud to take part in another way in the adventure of Cannes. Un Certain Regard, where I have presented three of my films, is always a very exciting selection. It brings us grand masters, promising young talent, new countries and new forms of cinema.”

Pablo Trapero was born in Argentina in 1971. His first feature film Mundo Grúa received the Critics’ Award at the Venice Film Festival in 1999. His films are distinguished by their portrayal of harsh social realities in an almost documentary style, but with a plot akin to a thriller, often with an uncompromising look at contemporary political issues.

In 2002, he founded Matanza Cine, an independent company that produces young Argentinean filmmakers, including Lisandro Alonso (La Libertad), Enrique Bellande and Raúl Perrone.

Pablo Trapero follows Thomas Vinterberg, who presided over last year’s Un Certain Regard jury, which presented the award to the Franco-Cambodian film The Missing Picture (L’Image manquante) by Rithy Panh.

The winner of the prize for Un Certain Regard will be announced on May 23, on the eve of the 67^th Festival closing night awards ceremony, which will take place this year, as an exception, on Saturday night.