Berlin (AFP)
US director Manoj Nelliyattu Shyamalan will preside over the jury for the 72nd Berlin Film Festival, event organizers announced on Tuesday.
Scheduled from February 10 to 20, the Berlinale, the largest European film festival after Cannes and Venice, should take place again in person after a 2021 edition almost exclusively online.
The 51-year-old American filmmaker of Indian origin, better known as "M. Night Shyamalan", made a name for himself with the general public thanks to his psychological thriller released in 1999 "The Sixth Sense", starring Bruce Willis, which earned him six Oscar nominations.
Since then, he has made suspense films, tinged with the supernatural, such as "After Earth", "The Visit", "Glass" or even "Old" last year, as well as the television series "Wayward Pines".
"With his films, he has created a universe where fears and desires are close, and where young people are not only the main characters, but also the driving forces to overcome fears," said in a statement the artistic director of the Berlinale, Carlo Chatrian.
"In the world of American cinema, Shyamalan is a unique figure, a filmmaker who has remained true to his vision," he added.
M. Night Shyamalan declared himself impatient to chair the jury of this festival: "Having the opportunity to support and celebrate the best talents in the world is a gift that I am very happy to accept".
After a year marked by the pandemic, forcing the festival to take place mainly online in March for the competition part followed by outdoor screenings during the summer for the public, its organizers are betting on the return of the public in theaters for February. .
The Golden Bear, the first prize, was awarded this year to the social satire of Romanian director Radu Jude "Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn".
© 2021 AFP