Palestinian actress Hiam Abbas among Cannes jurors

Palestinian actress Hiam Abbas The 2012 Cannes Film Festival jury line-up is set in stone and will include French designer Jean-Paul Gaultier, the festival director confirmed Wednesday on French television. "We have a tradition of inviting people who we know are cinephiles but who are not necessarily in cinema," Cannes chief Thierry Fremaux said on Canal+ about the 60-year-old designer.
He added that the film-buff designer – who has long expressed interest in being part of the nine-person jury – was a legitimate pick for his experience designing costumes on Pedro Almodovar films.
Fremaux also confirmed the jury presence of Scottish actor Ewan McGregor, whom he initially referred to as a "Scotsman in a kilt" who had "made a strong impression at Cannes" before divulging his name.
German actress Diane Kruger and French actress Emmanuelle Devos will likewise sit on the jury headed by Italian director Nanni Moretti, as well as Haitian director Raoul Peck and American director Alexander Payne.
Also on the jury will be Palestinian actress Hiam Abbass, as well as British director and screenwriter Andrea Arnold.
Fremaux said Payne reflected "a kind of revival of American cinema" that is equally present in the film line-up of the 65th annual festival.
Despite the multiple confirmations, Fremaux stopped short of revealing when all jury names would officially be announced.
The world's biggest film festival runs from May 16-27 this year and opens with Wes Anderson's 1960s drama "Moonrise Kingdom" starring Bruce Willis and Bill Murray.