The organizers of the Berlin Film Festival revealed that Lupita Nyong’o, an actress who has won an Academy Award and is most recognized for her roles in “Black Panther” and “12 Years a Slave,” will serve as the head of the jury for the festival in the next year.
It was her Oscar-winning portrayal as the brutalized slave Patsy in Steve McQueen’s historical film “12 Years a Slave” that brought the Mexican-Kenyan actress to recognition. She frequently chooses parts that investigate the African diaspora and themes of race.
More recently, she played the role of Nakia, the female lead, in Marvel Studios’ first black-led superhero picture, “Black Panther” (2018), as well as in the sequel to the film, which is scheduled to be released in 2022. She also had a part in Jordan Peele’s psychological horror movie “Us” in 2019.
In addition, Nyong’o has theatrical and television appearances to her name. She is now working on a series that will be based on the novel “Americanah,” written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who is from Nigeria.
The Golden and Silver Bears, together with the prizes awarded at Cannes and Venice, are among the most coveted accolades on the international film festival circuit. The Berlinale, the yearly film festival that takes place in Germany’s financial center, selects the winners of the Golden and Silver Bears.
“Lupita Nyong’o embodies what we like in cinema: versatility in embracing different projects, addressing different audiences, and consistency to one idea,” Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian, directors of the Berlinale, stated in a statement as they referred to Lupita Nyong’o.