Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o has become the first black head of the Berlin International Film Festival jury.
Known as the Berlinale, the annual cinematic extravaganza stands as one of the world’s top five film festivals. For its 74-year history, the event has never appointed a black individual to lead its jury, AFP reported last year sourcing organizers.
Nyong’o’s appointment will see her spearhead the jury’s mission to handpick the most exceptional films across the Golden and Silver Bears categories.
Her historic role not only underscores her achievements but also represents a pivotal moment in the festival’s journey toward inclusivity and diversity.
Nyong’o’s appointment addresses several criticisms leveled against major film festivals like Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Sundance, and Toronto for their lack of diversity among jury members.
The biggest and second-oldest of these, the Cannes Festival, only had its first black jury president in 2020, when American director Spike Lee was chosen.
At the opening of the event in Germany’s capital on Thursday, Nyong’o said she was “greatly honoured” to take on the position.
She added that the diversity of the jury would enrich the jury’s process of deciding on the films to award.
“That’s the beauty of bringing people together from different backgrounds – we respond to different things,” said the actress, who won an Oscar for 12 Years A Slave in 2014.
“We have a lot of world experience and opinion and it’s gonna be interesting. It’s probably also gonna be spicy.”
When Berlinale announced Nyong’o as jury president last December, the festival’s directors, Mariëtte Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian said Nyong’o was selected because she “embodies what we like in cinema”, through her acting versatility and ability to cater to different audiences.
The event will run until 25 February, when the jury announces the winning films in the major categories.
Three African entries are among the 20 competing for the top prize, and all tell stories from the continent.
They include “Black Tea” by Mauritanian-born Malian director Abderrahmane Sissako, “Who Do I Belong To” by Tunisian-Canadian director Meryam Joobeur, and the documentary “Dahomey” by French-Senegalese filmmaker Mati Diop.
