Spike Lee has made history by becoming the first black filmmaker to preside over the Cannes film festival jury. The Malcolm X and Do the Right Thing director said he was “shocked, happy, surprised and proud”. Lee has premiered seven films at the festival, with his 2018 movie BlacKkKlansman receiving wide acclaim.

His appointment follows criticism of the Oscars nominations for ignoring actors and directors of colour. Nineteen of the 20 acting nominees this year are white – the highest number since the #OscarsSoWhite protests of 2015 and 2016, of which Lee was a vocal supporter. He refused to the attend 2016 Oscars ceremony, prompting some other filmmakers and actors to follow. Three years later, he won his first competitive Oscar for best adapted screenplay (BlacKkKlansman).(bbc)…[+]