Spielberg to head Cannes Film Festival jury

  • 11 years ago
Steven Spielberg is to preside over the 2013 Cannes film festival jury, organisers announced on Thursday.

The addition of the A-list director will add Hollywood firepower to the high-brow international festival, which kicks off mid-May.

The announcement comes a day after Spielberg commemorated the 20th anniversary of his epic film, "Schindler's List."

At a school in California, Spielberg spoke of his program to encourage young people to connect with the past while engaging them current affairs.

SOUNDBITE: Steven Spielberg, saying:

"We are also in Rwanda with our cameras and Cambodia. Someday we hope to be in other places like Bosnia and Herzegovina and in South Africa that we need to go to record the testimony of the survivors of every genocide."

"Schindler's List" tells the story of one man's effort to save the lives of Jewish refugees during the Holocaust.

It scooped 7 Oscars - including Best Film and Best Director for Spielberg.

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