Cannes Film Festival: Argentine Director Pablo Trapero to Serve as President of the Un Certain Regard Sidebar

Pablo Trapero has been named the President of the jury of the Un Certain Regard sidebar of the Cannes Film Festival.

The Argentine screenwriter, director, and producer will return to the prestigious event after showing three of his films at the Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard section. The director said "I am very proud to serve as President of the Jury for Un Certain Regard... [it] is always a very exciting selection. It brings us grand masters, promising young talent, new countries, and new forms of cinema." Trapero follows Thomas Vinterberg who served as president last year.

Trapero's films have achieved several successes on the film circuit since his first feature "Mundo Grua," which received the Critic's Award at the Venice Film Festival in 1999. In 2002, his second feature, "El Bonaerense," was selected at Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard sidebar. He later returned with "Leonera" (2008), which competed for the Palm d'Or, and in 2010 "Carancho" (2010) also competed in the main competition slate. In 2012, "Elefante Blanco" went on to compete in the Un Certain Regard slate. Trapero is the founder of Matanza Cine, an independent company that develops young Argentinean filmmakers.

The Cannes Film Festival has yet to announce its lineup, but it has been announcing judges and special events. The festival will open with Oliver Dahan's "Grace of Monaco" starring Nicole Kidman ("The Hours"), Tim Roth ("The Hulk"), and Fank Langella ("Frost/Nixon"). It is also rumored that "Foxcatcher" will be presented at the festival after having been delayed. Bennett Miller ("Moneyball") directed the movie, which stars Mark Ruffalo ("The Avengers"), Channing Tatum ("Magic Mike") and Steve Carrell ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin").

Meanwhile, Jane Campion ("Bright Star") is slated to serve as president of the competition slate. Andrea Arnold ("Fish Tank," "Wuthering Heights") will also serve as the president of the Critics Week sidebar while Lambert Wilson ("Of Gods and Men") will be the Master of ceremonies. The short competition's jury will be headed by Abbas KIAROSTAMI (Iran), supported by directors Noémie LVOVSKY (France), Daniela THOMAS (Brazil), Mahamat-Saleh HAROUN (Chad), and Joachim TRIER (Norway).

The Un Certain Regard sidebar is best known for introducing upcoming filmmakers and smaller movies that do not fit in the competition slate. Last year, the sidebar featured the Oscar nominated films "The Missing Picture" and "Omar." It also featured festival favorite Claire Denis' "Bastards," Ryan Coogler's feature film debut "Fruitvale Station" and Sofia Coppola's "The Bling Ring." James Franco's "As I Lay Dying" and Alain Guiraudie's controversial film "Strangers by the Lake" also made their world premieres. Un Certain Regard winners have included "The Missing Picture," "After Lucia," "Arirang," "Stopped on Track," "Hahaha," and "Doogtooth."

The Competition and Uncertain Regard film slates will be announced on April 17. The Un Certain regard slate will be composed of 20 films.

The winner of the prize for Un Certain Regard will be announced May 23, a day before the closing night awards ceremony of the 67th festival.

The Cannes Film Festival will be held on May 14 to 25.