Paris-based British actress and singer Jane Birkin will chair the jury for the 2000 Cannes Un Certain Regard sidebar.

Birkin made her first Cannes appearance 33 years ago for her supporting role in Michelango Antiononi's London-set title Blow-Up. She recently starred in Deborah Warner's The Last September, along with Michael Gambon and Maggie Smith.

The Un Certain Regard/Fondation Gan prize - a contribution to the launch campaign of the winning title, worth up to FFr200,000 - was created in 1998. Last year's winner was Bosnian film-maker Jasmin Dizdar's Beautiful People.