WANA (Apr 29) – Iranian filmmaker Ali Asgari has been selected as one of the five jury members for the Short Films and La Cinef (Student Films) competition at the 79th Cannes Film Festival.

 

Spanish screenwriter and director Carla Simón will preside over the jury. Joining her and Asgari are South Korean actor and visual artist Park Ji-min, French actor and director Salim Kechiouche, and Swedish director and screenwriter Magnus von Horn.

 

The jury is tasked with evaluating 10 films in the Short Film Competition and 19 selections within La Cinef. They will jointly award the Short Film Palme d’Or and the three prizes for the La Cinef category.

 

A Prominent Figure in Iranian Cinema

According to the official Cannes Film Festival website, Ali Asgari is a leading figure in Iranian cinema, known for providing a precise portrayal of contemporary Iranian society. His notable short films include:

  • More Than Two Hours (2013) – Official Cannes Selection
  • The Baby (2014)
  • Silence (2016) – Short Film Palme d’Or nominee

 

Asgari’s debut feature, Disappearance (2017), was developed during the Cannes Festival Residency. He later co-directed Until Tomorrow (2022) and Terrestrial Verses (2023), the latter of which premiered in the Un Certain Regard section. His most recent work, The Divine Comedy (2025), premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

 

The 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to take place from May 12 to May 23, 2026.