Corona | Coming Attractions

Alice in Wonderland director Tim Burton will be taking a trip to southern France to watch movies. The filmmaker of 1989's Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, the 2001 remake of Planet of the Apes and Sweeney Todd, to name just a few Burton movies, has been selected to serve as the head of the Cannes Film Festival jury this year.

"After spending my early life watching triple features and 48-hour horror movie marathons, I'm finally ready for this," Burton told the press about his upcoming short-term job: "When you think of Cannes, you think of world cinema. And as films have always been like dreams to me, this is a dream come true."

"It's the first time an artist whose origins are in animation will preside over the jury of the Festival de Cannes," added Cannes president Gilles Jacob. "We hope his sweet madness and gothic humor will pervade the Croisette, bringing Christmas to all. Christmas and Halloween."

The 63rd Cannes Film Festival begins May 12th and runs until the 23rd. Burton's Alice in Wonderland opens in North America on March 5.