Lupita Nyong’o to Lead Jury at Berlin International Film Festival in February
BERLIN — Oscar-winning actor Lupita Nyong’o has been selected to head the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in February, as announced by organizers on Monday.
The 2024 Berlinale, marking the commencement of the year’s major European film festivals, is scheduled to take place from Feb. 15 to Feb. 25. This edition will be the final one under the current leadership of executive director Mariette Rissenbeek and artistic director Carlo Chatrian.
In a joint statement, Rissenbeek and Chatrian expressed their admiration for Nyong’o, stating that she “embodies what we like in cinema: versatility in embracing different projects, addressing different audiences, and consistency to one idea that is quite recognizable in her characters, as diverse as they may look.”
Nyong’o, who won the Oscar for best supporting actress in 2014 for her role in “12 Years A Slave,” responded by saying she was “deeply honored” to serve as the president of the international jury. She looks forward to “celebrating and recognizing the outstanding work of filmmakers from around the world.”
Born in Mexico to Kenyan parents, Nyong’o has not only excelled in acting but has also directed and produced. Additionally, she is the author of a children’s book titled “Sulwe.”
The announcement of Nyong’o’s appointment precedes the upcoming Berlinale, where organizers traditionally reveal the remaining members of the jury closer to the event’s commencement. In the previous edition, a seven-member jury led by actor Kristen Stewart determined the competition winners, with the top Golden Bear award going to French director Nicolas Philibert’s documentary, “On the Adamant.”
News of Nyong’o’s role as jury president coincides with Germany’s Culture Minister, Claudia Roth, set to announce the successors to Rissenbeek and Chatrian. Roth has emphasized her vision for a single leadership figure for the festival in the future.
Lupita Nyong’o will preside over the international jury of the upcoming Berlin Film Festival. https://t.co/WSfBOmjDDG
— Variety (@Variety) December 11, 2023