Park Chan-wook to Lead Jury at 2026 Cannes Film Festival
South Korean director becomes first Korean filmmaker to preside over the festival’s main competition
South Korean director Park Chan-wook has been tapped to head up the jury for the 79th Cannes Film Festival, according to organizers.
The festival’s 2026 run is locked in for May 12 through 23, with the much-anticipated competition slate set to be revealed sometime around mid-April. Here’s something worth pausing over: Park isn’t just another name on a list, he’s breaking new ground as the first Korean filmmaker and only the third Asian director ever to take charge of Cannes’ main jury. Before him. Japan’s Tetsurō Furukaki in 1962 and Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar-wai back in 2006.
Festival President Iris Knobloch and General Delegate Thierry Frémaux didn’t mince words when celebrating Park’s impact on modern cinema. They singled out his eye-catching visuals and flair for inventive storytelling, calling his films “truly memorable moments” that have resonated with audiences across borders. That global reach.. It speaks volumes about South Korea's growing clout on the world film stage,a trend impossible to ignore these days. Park’s history with Cannes runs deep.
Oldboy, his electrifying thriller from 2004, snagged him the Grand Jury Prize and kicked off a pattern: Thirst earned him another Jury nod in 2009; Decision to Leave clinched Best Director honors in 2022; The Handmaiden made waves during its competition premiere in 2016. All told, he’s brought four films into contention at this storied event (and counting).. In an official statement put out by festival brass, Park mused about what it means to experience movies together, how sitting side by side in a darkened theater turns watching into something communal. He says he’s eager for thoughtful debate with fellow jurors and relishes weighing this year’s contenders. He follows French screen legend Juliette Binoche, who chaired last year's panel,the same one that handed Iranian director Jafar Panahi top honors (the Palme d’Or) for It Was Just an Accident.
As jury president at Cannes, Park will steer discussions among international filmmakers and artists tasked with deciding winners across major categories, including that coveted Palme d’Or itself. This role puts Park right at the heart of one of film's most scrutinized annual gatherings,a spotlight gig if there ever was one. With South Korean cinema continuing its meteoric rise thanks to both critical acclaim and box office wins over recent years, all eyes are bound to be on what unfolds at Cannes in 2026.