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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Wednesday 15 January 2020
Cannes does 'right thing' in

appointing Spike Lee to lead

'By ANGELA CHARLTON artists are underrepresent- and question our stances
Associated Press ed in the cinema world. and fixed ideas."
PARIS (AP) — American di- Many of Lee's films have Ladj Ly, whose film "Les Mis-
rector Spike Lee will lead been shown at Cannes, erables" echoes some of
the jury of this year's Cannes and his "BlacKkKlans- Lee's work and tackles ten-
Film Festival, the first black man" won a major prize sions between police and
person to hold the post in at Cannes two years ago. minorities in a poor Paris
the event's 73-year history. This year's festival runs May suburb, hailed the move
Festival organizers hope 12-23, and the rest of the by festival organizers. "Les
Lee will "shake things up" jury members will be an- Miserables" screened at
In this Dec. 16, 2019 file photo, Spike Lee arrives at the world among the world's cinema nounced in April. Cannes last year and won
premiere of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" in Los Angeles. elite at the festival which "When I got the call ... I was an Oscar nomination Mon-
Associated Press runs May 12-23. And anti- shocked, happy, surprised day for best international
racism campaigners hope and proud all at the same film.
Lee's appointment wakes time," Lee said in a letter. The honorary president of
up the French cultural He said Cannes "changed French black rights group
world to persistent discrimi- the trajectory of who I be- CRAN also welcomed the
nation and the damaging came in world cinema." appointment of a filmmak-
stereotypes it perpetuates. Several of Lee's films first er who confronts viewers
Lee said he was "honored screened at Cannes, in- and powers-that-be with
to be the first person of the cluding "Do the Right Thing" strong opinions about dis-
African diaspora" chosen in 1989. crimination and police vio-
for the prestigious position. Without explicitly mention- lence.
Festival organizer Thierry ing Lee's career-long fight "The arts world considers it-
Fremaux said Lee is the against racism or other self above questions of dis-
first black president of any political views, the festival crimination," Louis-Georges
major film festival, calling said Lee's "perspective is Tin told The Associated
the decision a "message of more valuable than ever" Press. "But the #MeToo
universality." Speaking on and that "Cannes is a natu- campaign showed that
France's RTL radio, Fremaux ral homeland and a global sexism is all too present in
said it wasn't a political de- sounding board for those the arts world. And racism
cision, but noted that black who (re)awaken minds is too."q

Tom Hanks' family offered Greek

passport too for fire help

of a deadly wildfire near that in their effort to as-
Athens in 2018. Last month, sist charity efforts they had
Greek President Proko- provided "exceptional ser-
pis Pavlopoulos signed an vices to Greece." Honorary
honorary naturalization or- naturalization, under Greek
der allowing the 63-year- law, may be granted to
old actor, who has spent his people "who have provid-
recent summer vacations ed exceptional services to
at a family home on the the country or whose natu-
Greek island of Antiparos, ralization serves the public
to claim Greek citizenship. interest." Hanks became
The decision published an Orthodox Christian be-
in a government gazette fore his second marriage in
Tuesday and co-signed by 1988 to Rita Wilson, who is
Greek Interior Minister Takis of Greek and Bulgarian de-
Theodorikakos, revealed scent. Hanks, Wilson, and
Tom Hanks, winner of the Ce- that the order also includes Hollywood producer Gary
cil B. deMille Award, poses
in the press room at the 77th Hanks' wife, actress and Goetzman co-produced
annual Golden Globe Awards producer Rita Wilson, and the 2002 romantic comedy,
at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on their two sons, Chester and My Big Fat Greek Wedding,
Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in Bev- Truman. which received an Acad-
erly Hills, Calif. The wildfire killed more than emy Award nomination for
Associated Press 100 people in July 2018, best original screenplay.
sweeping through the In a post on Instagram last
By DEREK GATOPOULOS coastal town of Mati and week, Hanks said: "Starting
Associated Press other nearby resorts east of 2020 as an Honorary citi-
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Athens. zen of all of Greece! Kronia
Greece's government is "The Hanks family gave a pola! (more or less, 'Many
extending its offer of citi- signal all over the world for years to you!'). Hanx"
zenship to Tom Hanks to his immediate relief actions to The post shows the shadow
wife and their two children, help our fire-stricken fellow of Hanks holding up his left
in recognition of the fam- citizens," the order signed arm against an ancient
ily's help in assisting victims on Dec. 27 said. It added Greek statue.q