Lupita Nyong'o Creates a Historic Moment at Berlinale, the German Film Festival

Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong'o has created history by becoming the first black head of the Berlin International Film Festival jury, also known as the Berlinale. This festival is one of the world's largest film events and has been running for 74 years. In its history, it has never had a black jury head until now. Nyong'o will be responsible for selecting the winning films in the Golden and Silver Bears categories. The lack of diversity in the juries of the top five international film festivals, including Berlinale, Cannes, Venice, Sundance, and Toronto, has often been criticized. Cannes, the most prominent of these festivals, only had its first black jury president in 2020 with the selection of American director Spike Lee. Nyong'o expressed her gratitude for being appointed as the head of the jury and stated that the diversity of the jury will enhance the decision-making process. She emphasized the value of bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds, who bring different experiences and opinions. The Berlinale directors chose Nyong'o as the jury president because she embodies the qualities they appreciate in cinema, such as acting versatility and the ability to cater to different audiences. The festival will continue until February 25th, when the jury will announce the winners in the major categories. Among the 20 films competing for the top prize, three African entries tell stories from the continent: Black Tea by Abderrahmane Sissako, Who Do I Belong To by Meryam Joobeur, and the documentary Dahomey by Mati Diop.