Cannes Extends Tenures of President, Director Through 2014

PARIS - Festival de Cannes president Gilles Jacob and director Thierry Fremaux will be shaking hands with filmmaking elite on the top of the Palais steps for the next three years in Cannes with the dynamic duo on Wednesday confirming plans to remain in their posts through 2014.

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Fremaux will not only stay on, but has been granted even more executive power over the fest's budget, staffing and development.

"I will have total freedom to act," Fremaux told French press, adding: "It is the start of a new governance at the head of Cannes to guarantee the festival's future."

The festival’s board of directors met on Tuesday and voted to extend the fest toppers’ mandates through 2014.

The 81-year-old president Jacob has been with the festival for more than 30 years and isn’t ready to change out of his tuxedo quite yet. 50 year-old Fremaux, named fest director in 2008, will remain by his side. After a short holiday break, Fremaux will be back in action in January and is gearing up to screen five to seven films per day.

“We’re going to continue to mix my experience with his youth and dynamism,” Jacob said of his other half, adding: “People know us as the silhouettes in tuxedos at the top of the Palais steps every night to welcome the stars, but in reality, we’re the workers shoveling coal below deck while everyone else is dancing and singing on the bridge.”

This year’s Festival de Cannes will see talent from across the globe dancing, singing and screening films from May 16th-27th in the Riviera town.