Cate Blanchett named jury president of Camerimage main competition

Cate Blanchett has been named jury president of the main competition at the 32nd edition of the EnergaCamerimage International Cinematography Film Festival, which will take place Nov. 16-23 in Toruń, Poland.

“Films are lightning in a bottle, and I have had the profound creative privilege of working with some of the great lightning catchers – cinematographers who have forever changed the way I work and the way I look at the world. To be at EnergaCamerimage in their midst en masse is a fever dream come true,” said Blanchett.

Many films that the two-time Oscar-winnning actress has been involved with have figured prominently at Camerimage over the years. She earned her first Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in the film “Elizabeth,” for which DP Remi Adefarasin took home the Camerimage Golden Frog in 1999.

In 2008 she received two Oscar nominations, for best actress for “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” and best supporting actress for “I’m Not There,” which earned Ed Lachman the Bronze Frog. More recently, she was Academy Award nominated for her performances in “Carol” and “Tár,” both of which earned the Golden Frog for cinematographers Lachman and Florian Hoffmeister, respectively.

Alongside Andrew Upton and Coco Francini, Blanchett is a co-founder and principal of Dirty Films, the production company behind Warwick Thornton’s “The New Boy” (which she also appeared in), which received the Golden Frog in 2023. This was the first time a cinematographer/director has won the top prize.

“Cate is an outstanding artist who defies all definitions,” said festival director Marek Żydowicz. “She inspires many people around the world, including the greatest contemporary artists. She is sensitive to the problems of others and ready to help. Her arrival and meeting with the festival guests will undoubtedly be extremely creative. I am proud and happy that she accepted the invitation and agreed to become the chairman of the main competition jury.”