Mike Leigh Named Berlin Festival Jury President

Mike Leigh

 Acclaimed British film director Mike Leigh will be the Jury President for the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival, which  runs Feb. 9-19, 2012. Leigh, who has collected a Palme d'Or in Cannes, a Golden Lion in Venice and seven Oscar nominations in his 40-year film making career, will oversee the international jury that hands out Berlin's Golden and Silver Bears at the 62nd Berlin fest.

 Leigh's debut feature, Meantime premiered in Berlin's Forum sidebar in 1984 but he didn't return until 2008, when Happy-Go-Lucky bowed in competition, winning the Best Actress prize for star Sally Hawkins and launching her international career.
 Leigh is considered one of Europe's greatest living directors. His last feature, Another Year, premiered in Cannes in 2010 and earned Leigh an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
 The 57-year-old director continues to work on stage. His most recent play, Grief, is currently being performed across Britain.