Bejo to host opening and closing ceremonies of festival running 16-27 May.

Berenice Bejo, co-star of The Artist, will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Cannes Film Festival, the event has confirmed.

Bejo’s role as mistress of ceremonies was to have been announced at the press conference unveiling Cannes’ Official Selection on Thursday but news of the appointment broke on Twitter and then in French newspaper Le Parisien this morning after her agent confirmed the rumour.

Contacted by news agency AFP, Cannes president Gilles Jacob said: “”This kind of announcement would normally be made by institutions, rather than by the agent… but her smile is sure to win everyone over.”

The festival, which had previously refused to comment on the rumour, also confirmed the news following Jacob’s confirmation.

Bejo won a Cesar and was Oscar nominated for her performance in her husband Michel Hazanavicius’ silent black-and-white film The Artist, which swept the Academy Awards this year with five prizes including Best Picture and Best Actor for Jean Dujardin.

Previous ceremony mistresses include Kirsten Scott Thomas and French actress Melanie Laurent.

The Official Selection of the Cannes Film Festival will be announced on Thursday morning.

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