Khaled Mouzanar named to Cannes jury

Lebanese composer and producer Khaled Mouzanar has been named a jury member for the “Un Certain Regard” section of the Cannes Film Festival during its 79th edition, taking place from May 12 to May 23, 2026. His appointment places him among a select group of international artists chosen to judge one of Cannes’ most respected official categories.

Un Certain Regard is one of the festival’s principal sections, known for spotlighting daring cinema, emerging voices, and distinctive storytelling. Mouzanar will serve on the jury led by Leïla Bekhti, alongside Senegalese filmmaker Angèle Diabang, Italian director Laura Samani, and French filmmaker Thomas Cailley.

The selection is particularly notable because composers rarely serve on Cannes juries. It recognizes Mouzanar’s unusual career, one that bridges music, cinema, and contemporary art. He is widely known for his long creative partnership with Nadine Labaki, with whom he worked on Caramel, Where Do We Go Now?, and Capernaum. The latter won the Jury Prize at Cannes in 2018 and went on to receive global acclaim, including an Academy Award nomination.

Lebanon’s Cannes legacy

Mouzanar’s appointment also continues Lebanon’s visible presence within Cannes juries over the years. His wife, Nadine Labaki, previously served as President of the “Un Certain Regard” Jury in 2019, before returning in 2024 as a member of the festival’s Main Competition Jury, one of the highest distinctions offered by Cannes. With Khaled Mouzanar now joining the 2026 panel, Lebanon once again holds a seat in shaping one of world cinema’s most influential festivals.

Beyond his film scores, Mouzanar has built a reputation for multidisciplinary artistic work. His immersive project 18:08 – When Gravity Was No More, created in tribute to the Beirut port explosion, further demonstrated his ability to move between sound, memory, and visual storytelling.

Following the announcement, Mouzanar said he was "proud to join the jury this year and eager to discover new talents and new films". His selection arrives as another reminder that despite Lebanon’s crises, its artists continue to command international recognition and help define global culture.