Mylene Farmer, Maggie Gyllenhaal join 2021 Cannes jury 
Maggie Gyllenhaal at a reception for the members of the Berlinale Jury, Rotes Rathaus, Berlin, Feb. 15, 2017. (Shutterstock Photo)


Organizers announced Thursday that French singer Mylene Farmer, U.S. actress and screenwriter Maggie Gyllenhaal and Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho will be among the jury members that award the top movie prize at the Cannes Film Festival in July.

"Do the Right Thing" and "Malcolm X" director Spike Lee was named jury president in 2020, when the Cannes cinema showcase was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is set to head up the 2021 edition, which was moved from May to July.

This combination of file pictures created on June 24, 2021 (from L, up to down) shows the Jury of the 74th Cannes Film Festival, including U.S. director Spike Lee, French actress and director Melanie Laurent, U.S. actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, French singer Mylene Farmer, Austrian film director Jessica Hausner, French actor Tahar Rahim, Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho, South Korean actor Song Kang-ho and French movie director Mati Diop. (Photo by AFP)

Easing coronavirus restrictions are raising hopes that international stars will be able to travel to the French Riviera for the glitzy fortnight of film premieres, which culminates in the top Palme d'Or award for best movie.

The 2021 jury also includes French-Senegalese director Mati Diop, whose debut feature "Atlantics" won a top award at the 2019 Cannes festival, and French actor Tahar Rahim, known for his role in Jacques Audiard's "The Prophet."

Austrian film director Jessica Hausner, French actress and director Melanie Laurent and South Korean actor Song Kang-ho, one of the stars of "Parasite," which won the 2019 Palme d'Or, will also be on the jury.