Palestinian actress and director, Hiam Abbas was asked to sit on the jury of the 65th edition of the Cannes Film Festival.

The prestigious jury is headed by the Italian director, actor and producer, Nanni Moretti. Other members include British director and scriptwriter Andrea Arnold; French actress Emmanuelle Davos; German actress Diane Kruger; French designer Jean Paul Gaultier; American director scriptwriter and producer Alexander Payne and the Haitian director, scriptwriter and producer Raoul Peck.

According to the Cannes Film Festival Press release, Hiam Abbas, born in Galilee, had her acting debut in Michel Khleifi’s Wedding in Galilee and has appeared in several films since. Her filmography includes Red Satin, The Syrian Bride, Lemon Tree and Bab El-Shams (The Gate of the Sun) by the Egyptian filmmaker, Youssry Nasrallah.

She had also appeared in Jim Jarmush’s film The Limits of Control and Julain Schnabel’s Miral, which was presented at the Venice Film Festival in 2010.

Hiam Abbas has just finished shooting Inheritance, her debut as a director.