The announcement came from the organizing committee of the 56th Cannes Film Festival, which recently released the list of jury members in France.

Headed by the French director Patrice Chereau, the nine-member jury will also include Meg Ryan, famous for her role in Sleepless In Seattle, and Steven Soderbergh, a well known Hollywood director.

Jiang Wen became known to the Cannes audience and jury thanks to his hit film The Missing Gun, which he directed and stars in. The Missing Gun was screened to wide acclaim at last year's Cannes Festival, but did not receive an award.

The nine-member jury will award the prestigious Palme d'Or at the May 25 closing ceremony of the festival, which runs from May 14 to 25.

Born in Hebei in 1963, Jiang Wen majored in Performance Studies at the Central Theatrical College from 1980 through 1984. He has co-starred, directed or produced films like LAST PRINCESS (1984), HIBISCUS TOWN (1985), RED SORGHUM (1987), SPRING PEACH (1988), BLACK SNOW (1989), LI LIANYING, THE IMPERIAL EUNUCH (1990), IN THE HEAT OF THE SUN (1994), THE EMPEROR'S SHADOW (1996).

(eastday.com April 25, 2003)