Fremaux set to take full control at Cannes

PARIS -- Thierry Fremaux, the Cannes Film Festival's delegate general, looks set to take full control at the world's premier film fest. Approved by Cannes' board of directors Monday, the new balance of power at Cannes also see Gilles Jacob's mandate as festival president extended to cover fest editions in 2013 and 2014. Serving as Cannes delegate general from 2007, Fremaux was already fully responsible for programming Cannes' Official Selection, which includes the Competition, out-of-competition slots, Special Screenings and Un Certain Regard. With Jacob -- Cannes delegate general from 1978, president from 2000 -- now serving as president in a non-executive capacity, Fremaux's new brief will extend his powers to the whole Cannes festival organization, including key issues such as sponsorship and new projects. Cannes presidential mandates normally run three years. Jacob, now 81, has effectively accepted to serve for three more editions since his current tenure lapses after Cannes next year. The new arrangement is the latest inflexion -- and a thumbs-up by the Cannes board -- for a delicate step-by-step transfer of power between Jacob and Fremaux begun when the latter became artistic director in 2001. Over the past 10 years that partnership has seen Cannes open up to new technologies, genre pics and a far more fluid relationship with Hollywood studios, whose pics -- often mixing auteurist vision with stars or new technology -- have supplied recent Cannes Gala Openers. Cannes has also initiated new projects, such as the Cannes Marche du Film's co-organization of Latin American film market Ventana Sur in Buenos Aires. Although Fremaux's decisions will still be taken in consultation with his board and Jacob, innovation can now be expected to continue, and may be accelerated. "I am proud about my new responsibilities and very happy to have Gilles Jacob at my side for a further mandate as president. This new situation could not be more perfect for me," Fremaux told Variety. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com