Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Actor Jeremy Irons to Head Jury at Berlin Film Festival

Associated Press

   BERLIN - British actor Jeremy Irons will head the jury at the Berlin
   International Film Festival next month, organizers said Thursday.

   Irons will be jury president at the festival's 70th edition, running
   from Feb. 20 to March 1. Other members of the jury haven't yet been
   named.
   Irons' screen and stage career started in the 1970s. He won a best
   actor Oscar in 1991 for his role in "Reversal of Fortune" and had
   acclaimed performances in films including "the French Lieutenant's
   Woman" and "The Mission" as well as the 1981 TV miniseries "Brideshead
   Revisited."
   Irons said in a statement released by festival organizers that he was
   taking on the festival role "with feelings of great pleasure and not
   inconsiderable honor."
   "With his distinctive style, Jeremy Irons has embodied some iconic
   characters that have accompanied me throughout my journey in cinema,
   making me aware of the complexity of human beings," Carlo Chatrian, the
   festival's artistic director, said.
   This year's festival is the first under the leadership of Chatrian, who
   previously headed the Locarno film festival, and executive director
   Mariette Rissenbeek. The duo replaced Dieter Kosslick, who directed the
   event for 18 years.