Pedro Almodovar has been named as the President of the Jury for the 70th Cannes Film Festival in May.
Pedro Almodovar
The 'Julieta' director has been chosen to chair the annual movie extravaganza held in the South of France from May 17 to May 28 and he admits he is "honoured" to have been offered the prestigious position.
In a statement confirming his appointment, he said: "I am very happy to be able to celebrate Cannes Film Festival's 70th anniversary from such a privileged position. I am grateful, honoured and bit overwhelmed. I am aware of the responsibility that entails being the president of the jury and I hope to be up to the job. I can only tell that I'll devote myself, body and soul to this task, that it is both a privilege and a pleasure."
The 67-year-old Spanish filmmaker was previously a member of the Cannes jury under the presidency of Gérard Depardieu back in 1992.
Almodovar's movie-making career has spanned four decades and some of his most acclaimed films include 'Pepi, Luci, Bom', 'All About My Mother' and 'Volver' and he has worked with esteemed stars such as Penélope Cruz and her husband Javier Bardem, Gael Garcia Bernal, Marisa Paredes, Antonio Banderas and Rossy de Palma.
His movie 'Bad Education' opened the festival in 2004 and five of his films have been selected In Competition in Cannes.