Cannes Film Festival president Gilles Jacob to step down in 2015May 8, 2013 - 16:05 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Gilles Jacob joined the Cannes Film Festival as its general delegate in 1977 and assumed the presidency in 2001. Now 83 years old, the prolific critic, author and director says he will step down in 2015, Deadline reveals. In an interview to be published this weekend, Jacob tells southern France newspaper Nice-Matin, “I’ve promised my wife several times that I would stop. This time, I’m going to do it.” Over the past 12 years, Jacob has taken on something of a figurehead role with the fest’s executive and artistic director Thierry Frémaux handling the official selection since 2001 as well as other managerial duties. But Jacob is a Cannes fixture who has long been a symbol of the festival. Over his nearly 40 years with the event, he has been responsible for such innovations as the Camera d’Or prize which goes to a first time filmmaker, and for the Un Certain Regard sidebar which runs concurrently with the Competition. He also stands alongside Frémaux at the top of the red-carpeted steps welcoming guests to every Competition screening during the festival’s ten day run. He has documented the festival in documentary and short films that include 2012′s Cannes anniversary movie A Special Day. His latest book, Les Pas Perdus, was published in France on April 24. Top stories The creative crew of the Public TV had chosen 13-year-old Malena as a participant of this year's contest. She called on others to also suspend their accounts over the companies’ failure to tackle hate speech. Penderecki was known for his film scores, including for William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist”, Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”. The festival made the news public on March 19, saying that “several options are considered in order to preserve its running” Partner news | Court in Azerbaijan extends former Karabakh leader’s arrest by 5 months The Binagadi District Court in Azerbaijan has granted the prosecutor’s petition to extend the arrest of Arkady Ghukasyan. Ucom General Director joins High-Tech Development Panel Discussion The discussion was titled "The Role of International Corporations and Investors as Catalysts for Development of High-Tech Ecosystem." U.S. still believes “peace is possible” between Armenia, Azerbaijan The United States continues to believe that peace is possible between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Vedant Patel says. Dozens detained as antigovernment protest continue in Armenia At least 63 people demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation were detained on May 14 as they blocked streets in Yerevan. |