The Festival
President of The Jury News
October 6, 2026
Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho, President of The Feature Film Jury for the 18th edition
Leading figure in Brazilian cinema, Kleber Mendonça Filho will preside the Feature Film Jury at the 18th edition of Les Arcs Film Festival from December 12 to 19, 2026. He will bring his perspective and experience of European cinema alongside the members of the Jury, as they come together for this week of films, encounters and discussion.
Kleber Mendonça Filho was born in Recife, northeastern Brazil. He graduated in journalism and had an extensive career as a critic and programmer, writing for numerous renowned outlets. He is the artistic director of the Janela Internacional de Cinema do Recife and the chief curator of cinema at the Moreira Salles Institute.
In 2012, Neighboring Sounds, his first fiction feature, was named one of The New York Times' 10 Best Films of the Year. His second feature, Aquarius (2016), debuted in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
In 2018, he co-wrote and co-directed, alongside Juliano Dornelles, Bacurau, which won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. His documentary Pictures of Ghosts, seven years in the making, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023.
His last feature to date, The Secret Agent (2025) starred Wagner Moura and won the Best Director and Best Actor Awards at the Cannes Film Festival. It earned 4 nominations at the Academy Awards in 2026.
