Cannes Welcomes Peter Jackson, Cate Blanchett, and Tilda Swinton for Inspiring Talks
Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson is set to receive an honorary Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. He will also engage in discussions as part of the festival’s talks program, alongside acclaimed actors Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton.
These conversations follow those of distinguished figures like Meryl Streep and Pedro Almódovar, who have shared insights into their artistic journeys in previous sessions.
Jackson will take the stage to reflect on his career just a day following the opening ceremony of the festival, which runs from May 12 to 24.
The New Zealand filmmaker has a longstanding relationship with Cannes, having debuted his first feature, Bad Taste, in the market back in 1988. He also presented sequences from The Fellowship of the Ring during a New Line event in 2001.
Blanchett, who made her Cannes debut in 1999, has returned to the festival eight times and was jury president in 2019. Her noteworthy films include Babel, Carol, The New Boy, and most recently, Rumours.
In addition to her acting career, Blanchett co-leads the production company Dirty Films alongside Andrew Upton and Coco Francini. She has also initiated programs such as the Proof of Concept, which elevates women, trans, and non-binary voices, as well as the Displacement Film Fund aimed at supporting refugee filmmakers.
Swinton is no stranger to Cannes either, having participated in the Official Selection for nearly 20 films, including Love Is The Devil, We Need To Talk About Kevin, Only Lovers Left Alive, Okja, and most recently, Asteroid City in 2023. She served as a jury member in 2004.
Her rise to fame began in 1992 with her role in Orlando and she has enjoyed a longstanding collaboration with director Derek Jarman, featuring in all his films from 1985 until his passing in 1994. Swinton won the Best Actress award at the 1991 Venice Film Festival for her performance in Edward II.
