Press conference of the Feature Films Jury

Pedro Almodovar, on his ambition as President of the Jury:

All I can hope for as President of this Jury is to be able to experience emotions as pure as those of the spectators who discovered La Dolce Vita or Apocalypse Now. On the other hand, I always have my own subjectivity when I enter a theater. I'll watch these films through the filter of my own personality.

Jessica Chastain, on her role as a jury member:

Most people know that my career began here, in Cannes. This place is very important to me. I'll remember the Tree of Life and my first visit here for the rest of my life. I'm going to try to be as objective as possible, even though I have friends in certain films. I want to judge these feature films with an open mind, by forgetting all I know about these artists.

Will Smith, on his responsibility as a jury member:

I grew up in Philadelphia, on the west side. It's far from the Festival de Cannes, which represents the height of prestige in cinema. I watched it from afar. I'm thus here to learn. I prefer being on the Jury. When you're In Competition, you don't sleep and you get really stressed out. I think that the last time I saw three films in one day, I was 14 years old! But I'll be serious; I'll go bed early and be ready at 8:30 in the morning for the first screenings. We're here to provide our own point of view, to confront the prejudices that we have. If artists from such diverse professional backgrounds are brought together, it's so that artistic debate ensues. And when you work with so many artists, you never know what might come out of it. My point of view will be that of an Afro-American.

Pedro Almodovar, regarding the arrival of Netflix in cinema:

Without hesitation, I prefer that my films are seen in theaters on a big screen. You've put your finger on the great debate of this festival. Digital platforms constitute a new way of presenting a work of art, and it's enriching. However, it's not about these new forms replacing others, like that of going to the movies. For me, these platforms must accept the rules already in place, particularly in financial and fiscal terms, and which have been adopted by all the networks.. These are the only means by which cinema can survive. I can't conceive of a Palme d’or being awarded to a film that was never shown in a theater. All this doesn't mean that I'm closed to new technologies and all that they contribute. I want to fight against the ability to hypnotize. In my opinion, what takes precedence is the size of the screen. We must humble ourselves before the big screen.

Will Smith, on the presence of Netflix in Cannes:

My kids go to the movies about twice a week and also watch Netflix at home.. Netflix hasn't had an impact in the sense that the platform keeps young people from humbly going to the movies. Netflix is useful because my kids wouldn't have been able to see so many foreign movies otherwise. The platform connects you to the rest of the world and provides you with a better understanding of world cinema.

Agnès Jaoui, on the question of Netflix:

You cannot make out as if technology hasn't advanced. I don't think it's necessary to dig your heels in and actively resist it. This is a quintessentially French issue, and it won't prevent people elsewhere from going to see the films.