Berlin: American actor Kristen Stewart will head the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in February, Europe’s first major cinema showcase of the year, organizers said on Friday.
Berlinale, as the event is known, said Stewart, 32, will be the youngest person in its 73-year history to lead the panel that selects the winners of the Golden and Silver Bear top prizes.
Festival co-chairs Marriott Reisenbeck and Carlo Chatrian called the “Spencer” and “Twilight” star “one of the most talented and versatile actors of his generation.”
“Young, bright and with an impressive body of work behind her, Kristen Stewart is the perfect bridge between America and Europe,” he said in a statement.
Considered one of Hollywood’s great young talents, Stewart began his career as a child actor, starring opposite Jodie Foster in David Fincher’s “Panque Room.”
The five-part “Twilight” saga made her and Robert Pattinson global superstars. Both have used their box office prowess to pursue projects with independent directors on each side of the Atlantic.
In 2015, Stewart became the first American to win France’s César Film Award, for her role opposite Juliette Binoche in “Clouds of Sils Maria.”
Two years later he made his directorial and screenwriting debut with the short film “Come Swim” and in 2018 served on the main jury at the Cannes Film Festival.
She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her turn as Princess Diana in Pablo Lerín’s 2021 drama “Spencer.”
Berlinale, which runs from February 16-26, is one of Europe’s top three film festivals along with Cannes and Venice and serves as the industry’s initial annual launch pad.
Spanish director Carla Simon won the Golden Bear for best film this year for “Alcaras,” a Catalan drama about peach farmers.
Organizers announced last month that three-time Oscar winner Steven Spielberg, 75, will attend the ceremony to receive an honorary Golden Bear award for lifetime achievement. (AFP)