50th Semaine de la Critique: Since its creation in 1990, the Grand Prize for La Semaine de la Critique has been awarded to one of the seven feature films in Competition and has been selected by journalists who were invited to vote following each screening. For its anniversary, La Semaine has decided to honor film critics and has formed a jury. It is comprised of international journalists and the President is Korean director Lee Chang-dong.

Lee Chang-dong, President of the Jury of the Nespresso Grand Prize for La Semaine de la Critique

Lee Chang-dong made his directorial debut with Green Fish (1996). His second feature, Peppermint Candy (2000) received many awards. His third film, Oasis won the Best Director Award at the 2002 Venice Film Festival and was presented at La Semaine de la Critique in 2003 as part of the Fipresci discovery screening series. After stepping down as the Minister of Culture and Tourism in South Korea, he directed Secret Sunshine, which won the Award for Best Actress at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival and Poetry, which won the Award for Best Screenplay at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.

La Semaine de la Critique has always been particularly interested in short and medium length films, as they often represent the vital first steps in a director's career. By presenting their shorts, La Semaine has discovered such illustrious filmmakers as François Ozon, Gaspar Noé and Andrea Arnold.
This year, the President of the jury awarding one of the ten short and medium length films in Competition is Polish director Jerzy Skolimowski.

Jerzy Skolimowski, President of the Jury of the Kodak Discovery Award for Short Film

Jerzy Skolimowski wrote the screenplays for Roman Polanski's Knife in the Water and Andrzej Wajda's Innocent Sorcerers. His first breakthrough as a director was at the 1965 Semaine de la Critique with Walkover. His directing credits include, The Departure (Golden Bear at the 1967 Berlinale), Deep End (1971), The Shout (1978), Hands Up! (1981) and Moonlighting (1982). After a 17-year break, he shot Four Nights with Anna (2008) and Essential Killing (Special Jury Prize at the 2010 Venice International Fim Festival)