Filmmaker from Little Rock chosen to help select winners at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival

Little Rock, Arkansas — In order to help select the winners at this year’s world-famed 2022 Cannes Film Festival in May, an Arkansas filmmaker from Little Rock was chosen.

Jeff Nichols is the only American on the nine-member jury of the festival.

Nichols is most known for his films Take Shelter released in 2011, Mud released in 2012 filmed in Arkansas, and Loving released in 2016, which have been critically acclaimed, according to reports.

“I’ve always wanted to represent Arkansas and their voices and their stories in a way that felt realistic,” Nichols told 40/29 News. “And in a way that reflected what I saw growing up.”

Two weeks ago, Nichols, co-founder, and chairman of the Arkansas Cinema Society was invited to serve on the jury but was not allowed to share the details. “I’ve had to kind of, you know, keep my mouth shut and keep it to myself,” he said.

This year is the 75th anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival that will take place in southern France. “It’s a real honor to be selected as one of these nine jurors,” Nichols said. “And I’m gonna get to go hang out in the south of France for two weeks and watch what is arguably the greatest cinema in the world. So I’m excited.”

The festival will begin on May 17 and last through May 28.