Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai will head the jury of the 59th Cannes Film Festival from May 17-28, to be the first Chinese president in the history of the festival, organizers said Wednesday. 

 

Wong, whose work As Tears Go By was first screened at Cannes in 1989, won best director at the 1997 festival for Happy Together, his tale of a strained relationship between two Chinese gay lovers living in Buenos Aires. 　　

 

In 2000 his film In the Mood for Love earned him wider international plaudits, nominated for a Golden Palm at Cannes and going on to earn some US$2.7 million at the US box office. 　　

 

He went back to the famous French resort in 2004 with his film 2046, the follow-up to In the Mood, included in the Cannes official selection. 　　

 

In a statement released by organizers, Wong said he was very honored to have been named as the president of the jury at this year's festival. 　　

 

"Each city has its own language. In Cannes it is the language of dreams. Yet it is difficult to judge one's dream much less compare it to another," he said in the statement. 　　

 

"One can never expect the wind, but should always keep one's window open," he said. 　　

 

"Along with my fellow jurors, I look forward to sharing the dreams created by some of the most gifted talents in contemporary cinema. And our goal will be to keep our windows open as wide as possible," he added. 　　

 

Cannes Film Festival President Gilles Jacob said Wong's films immediately strike the audience by their plastic splendor and nostalgic amorous emotion in the great romantic tradition. 　　

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 5, 2006)