Paris (AFP)

Twenty-four hours after Oscar nominations criticized for their lack of diversity, the Cannes Film Festival struck hard by appointing the American director Spike Lee as the next president of the jury and the first black to hold this position.

If the largest film festival in the world has already welcomed black American artists, such as the filmmaker Ava DuVernay in 2018 and the actor Will Smith in 2017, to its jury, this is a first for its president.

"The look of Spike Lee is more precious than ever," say Pierre Lescure, the festival president, and Thierry Frémaux, the general delegate, in a press release.

"Cannes is a natural land of welcome and a world sounding board for those who (r) awaken the spirits and question each in his postures and his convictions. The flamboyant personality of Spike Lee promises a lot", they continue, about from the militant director, who paved the way for many African American filmmakers.

"When I was called to become president of the jury (...), I couldn't believe it, I was happy, surprised and proud at the same time," said Spike Lee, 62, saying " honored to be the first person in the African diaspora "in the United States to hold this office.

Flagship filmmaker of the black cause, he presented a total of seven of his films on the Croisette, and was awarded the Grand Prize in 2018 for "BlackkKlansman", telling the true story of a black man infiltrated into the Ku Klux Klan.

A cap and sneakers, the sixties in his eternal adolescent look had entered the Palais des Festivals by showing his "love" and "hate" tattoos engraved on his hands, like Robert Mitchum in "The night of the hunter" ( 1955).

Anti-racist, violently anti-Trump pamphlet, "BlackkKlansman" will then earn him the first Oscar in competition of his career, after an Oscar of honor in 2016.

Overjoyed, Spike Lee jumped into the arms of actor Samuel L. Jackson, who presented the award and starred in several of his films.

- Thirty years of history with Cannes -

"What President of the Jury will he be? See you in Cannes!", Amuse the organizers, about this political president ("he is the one who raises his fist"), endowed with a strong personality.

"Cannes has shaped my trajectory in world cinema," said Spike Lee, looking back on his long history with the Cannes festival.

It all started in 1986 when he came to present to the Directors' Fortnight his first feature film "Nola Darling does as he pleases", a short film shot in two weeks, in black and white before being declined in series for Netflix thirty years later, faced with success. A young black woman, hesitating between three lovers, talks freely about her relationships. The film will leave with the youth prize.

Three years later, Spike Lee is in competition for the first time with "Do The Right Thing", evoking the racial tensions in Brooklyn, a day of strong heat.

Follow in various Cannes sections, "Jungle Fever" in 1991 in competition, "Girl 6" in 1996 out of competition, "Summer of Sam" in 1999 at the Directors' Fortnight, "Ten Minutes Older" in 2002 at Un Certain Regard, then "BlackkKlansman".

Surrounded by his jury which will be unveiled in mid-April, Spike Lee will have the heavy task of appointing the successor to "Parasite" of South Korean Bong Joon-ho, Palme d'or 2019 awarded by the jury chaired by Mexican director Alejandro Iñarritu ("The Revenant").

Rare fact, this black comedy, with critical success as audience, is currently in the running for the Oscar for best film and that of the best foreign film.

The announcement of the Oscar nominations on Monday, with the "Joker" in mind (11 nominations), was immediately criticized for its lack of diversity, with a selection deemed very white and very masculine.

© 2020 AFP