‘Mad Max’ director George Miller to head Cannes jury

“What an unmitigated delight! To be there in the middle of this storied festival at the unveiling of cinematic treasures from all over the planet. To spend time in passionate discourse with fellow members of the jury. Such an honor. I’ll be there with bells on!,” the director said in a statement.

Originally from a small village in Queensland, Miller wrote and directed ‘Violence in the Cinema’, part 1 in 1971.

He made his feature film debut in 1979 with “Mad Max”, starring Mel Gibson. Inspired by the “outback gothic” genre sweeping Australia at the time, the film was a worldwide smash hit.

The futuristic drama is credited for giving a touch of class to the action genre with its masterly combination of Road Movie, Western and Science-Fiction elements.

He subsequently directed “Mad Max 2: the Road Warrior” in 1981, “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” in 1985 and a hugely successful “Mad Max: Fury Road” in 2015.

His other projects as producer-director-screenwriter are “Witches of Eastwick”, “Lorenzo’s Oil”, “Babe”, which he produced, “Happy Feet and ‘Happy Feet 2”.

Miller returned to the iconic character Max Rockatanskyin the fourth “Mad Max” movie after 30 years.

Set in the post-apocalyptic world, the movie deftly weaves feminist and anti-totalitarian overtones with great action.

The film has picked up 10 nominations at this year’s Oscars including the best picture and best director for Miller.

The Cannes film festival will run from May 11-22.