Un Certain Regard picks jury head

Ferran helmed 'Chatterly'

By ALISON JAMES

Ferran

PARIS — Pascale Ferran, helmer of multiple Gallic prizewinner "Lady Chatterley" and a former Camera d'Or winner, will chair the jury of the Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard selection.

Jury awards a prize to one of some 20 films in the Un Certain Regard lineup, part of the festival's Official Selection, which will be unveiled April 19 in Paris by artistic director Thierry Fremaux.

"Chatterley" won five statuettes, including best film, at Gaul's Cesar Awards last month, as well as nabbing the prestigious Prix Louis Delluc for best French film, among other kudos.

Since the Cesars, ticket sales for the little-seen pic have risen to around 300,000.

Ferran is no stranger to Cannes. Her short film "The Kiss" was in the official selection in 1990, and was back again in 1992 as the scriptwriter for Arnaud Desplechin's competing "The Sentinel."

She came to more prominent attention in 1994 when she won the Camera d'Or for her first feature film "Coming to Terms With the Dead."

The Un Certain Regard jury, which consists of journalists and industry professionals, will announce the prize winner this year on May 26. The festival runs May 16-27.

Previous Un Certain Regard jury toppers have included Alexander Payne and Monte Hellman.