Oscar-winning actor Daniel Kaluuya has joined the jury for the 2025 Cannes Critics’ Week, a prominent sidebar of the prestigious film festival dedicated to first and second feature films. The jury will be headed by Spanish director Rodrigo Sorogoyen, known for his critically acclaimed works like The Beasts, which earned multiple Goya Awards in 2022.
The five-person jury, which will convene during the festival’s Critics’ Week running from May 14–22, will also include Moroccan journalist Jihane Bougrine, French-Canadian cinematographer Josée Deshaies, and Indonesian producer Yulia Evina Bhara. Together, the jury will select winners for several prestigious awards, including the AMI Paris Grand Prize for best feature, the French Touch Prize of the Jury, the Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award, and the Leitz Cine Discovery Prize for best short film.
Sorogoyen, who had originally been set to lead the 2024 jury before stepping down due to personal circumstances, shared his belief that the Critics’ Week serves as an important platform for emerging filmmakers. “Critics’ Week has always been about supporting and elevating fresh voices,” said Sorogoyen, emphasizing the section’s role in launching new talents in the film industry.
Daniel Kaluuya, who garnered critical praise and an Academy Award for his portrayal in Judas and the Black Messiah, joins the jury with his significant experience in both mainstream and independent cinema. His selection for the panel underscores Cannes Critics’ Week’s focus on spotlighting diverse storytelling approaches.
Deshaies, Bougrine, and Bhara each bring unique perspectives to the table, with Deshaies being recognized for her cinematography work in Passages and The Beast. Bougrine’s journalism expertise adds an insightful international angle, and Bhara has been a key producer for acclaimed films such as Tiger Stripes.
The official selection of films for the Critics’ Week section will be unveiled on April 14, with the jury set to evaluate the promising titles that will be presented.