Lily Gladstone Joins Cannes 2024 Jury; A Look At Other Jury Members

The Cannes Film Festival 2024 will feature a nine-member jury led by Greta Gerwig, known for her directorial success with Barbie. Gerwig makes history as the first female American director to hold this position. Joining her on the jury are notable figures such as Lily Gladstone, praised for her performance in Killers of the Flower Moon, and Ebru Ceylan, co-writer of the Palme d'Or-winning Winter Sleep.

Meet Cannes 2024 Jury Members

Lily Gladstone, recognised for her role in Martin Scorsese's film, returns to Cannes after becoming the first Native American woman nominated for an Oscar and winning a Golden Globe. This diverse jury promises to bring a range of perspectives to the prestigious festival

The jury also includes Turkish screenwriter and photographer Ebru Ceylan, French actress Eva Green, Lebanese director and screenwriter Nadine Labaki, Spanish director and screenwriter J.A. Bayona, Italian actor Pierfrancesco Favino, Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda, and French actor and producer Omar Sy.

The #Cannes2024 Jury stikes a pose! 📸 Le Jury #Cannes2024 prend la pose !#Photocall Feature Film Jury / Jury Longs Métrages pic.twitter.com/G5GdSn4ujd

— Festival de Cannes (@Festival_Cannes) May 14, 2024

Who Is Lilly Gladstone?

Lily Gladstone clinched the Best Actress in a Motion Picture/Drama award at the 2024 Golden Globes, beating a competitive lineup of nominees including Carey Mulligan, Sandra Hüller, Annette Bening, Greta Lee, and Cailee Spaeny. When the moment arrived to announce the winner, the anticipation was palpable. Lily Gladstone emerged victorious, claiming the coveted award. As she took the stage, Gladstone began her speech by honouring her roots, speaking in the Blackfeet language, which is the Algonquian language spoken by the Blackfoot or Niitsitapi people.

She then switched back to English, expressing tears of joy as she spoke about her community and expressed her gratitude for the award. Her heartfelt address, delivered partly in her native tongue, was a poignant moment, highlighting her connection to her heritage.

Lily Gladstone secured her maiden Golden Globe nomination and victory with Apple TV+'s Killers of the Flower Moon, a film directed and co-written by Scorsese. Portraying Mollie Kyle, a pivotal figure in the real-life narrative set in the 1920s Osage Nation of Oklahoma, Gladstone starred alongside fellow Globe nominees DiCaprio and De Niro, who played Ernest Burkhart and William King Hale, respectively. The film delves into the haunting saga of Mollie Kyle's family and community, who were victims of targeted serial killings during that era.

The standout aspect of this Apple Original Film is the exceptional performance by Lilly Gladstone, an actor who cannot be overlooked. Gladstone takes on the powerfully complex role of Mollie, an Indigenous woman whose family and tribal community endure brutal killings orchestrated by a group of white men driven by insatiable greed and a thirst for power. Without a doubt, Gladstone's portrayal in this film is nothing short of magnificent.

Lilly Gladstone On The Work Front

Lilly Gladstone is an American actor who proudly embraces her Blackfeet and Nimíipuu heritage. She first made her mark in the film industry with her debut in Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian in 2012. Following that, she collaborated with filmmaker Kelly Reichardt in two independent films: Certain Women and First Cow. Her exceptional portrayal of a rancher in Certain Women even earned her a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female.

Growing up in Browning, Montana, within the Blackfeet Nation reservation, Gladstone developed a strong connection to her heritage. Her upbringing provided her with first-hand knowledge of the exploitation experienced by the Osage tribe, although she only fully comprehended the extent of the "reign of terror" after David Grann's book gained widespread attention. While acknowledging that some dramatic license has been taken in Killers of the Flower Moon, Gladstone believes that the film accurately depicts the events. She hopes that the film's portrayal will shed light on the injustice faced by the Osage tribe, including the theft of their land and fortunes by white "guardians" appointed to oversee their money and limit their access to it.

Completing her high school education in Mountlake Terrace, a suburb of Seattle, Gladstone went on to pursue a BFA in Acting/Directing with a minor in Native American Studies at the University of Montana, graduating in 2008. Her background and personal connection to the stories she heard growing up in Montana fuelled her passion for bringing important narratives, such as that of the Osage tribe, to the forefront through her remarkable performances. With her talent and dedication, Lilly Gladstone continues to make a significant impact in the world of films and advocate for the representation of Indigenous stories and experiences.