Mad Max: Fury Road director George Miller to head Cannes jury

George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road was shown at the Cannes Film Festival last year

Mad Max creator George Miller has been named as president of this year's Cannes Film Festival jury.

Miller, whose films also include Lorenzo's Oil and The Witches of Eastwick, will be the first Australian to preside over the film event.

His prestigious new role follows on from the success of Mad Max: Fury Road in the Oscars race after the movie picked up 10 nominations.

Cannes organisers called Miller a "visionary" filmmaker.

In a statement released on Tuesday, organisers said that choosing Miller, who is also a screenwriter and producer, was a celebration of genre cinema.

"Throughout his career, George Miller has constantly experimented with a variety of genres, brilliantly reconciling mass audience expectations and the highest artistic standards," they said.

And seemingly unfazed by the task ahead, Miller has reacted with enthusiasm.

"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," Miller said in a statement.

"To spend time in passionate discourse with fellow members of the jury. Such an honour. I'll be there with bells on."

Mad Max: Fury Road saw Tom Hardy take on the starring role made famous by Mel Gibson

Multi-faceted

Last year, the festival's organisers also departed from the norm when they appointed maverick double act The Coen Brothers as co-presidents.

Although Cannes stalwarts, having shown seven of their 16 features at the event and also winning the Palme d'Or for Barton Fink in 1991, it was the first time the festival's competition jury was chaired by two people.

But Miller is himself no stranger to Cannes. The action-packed Mad Max: Fury Road was screened at last year's festival.

The futuristic drama, which sees British actor Tom Hardy take on Mel Gibson's role as "Road Warrior" Max Rockatansky, has gone on to have global success, winning critical acclaim and making $376m (£262m) at the box office worldwide.

And, as well as its Oscar nominations, the film scooped nine prizes at last week's Critics' Choice awards in Los Angeles, including best director.

But the choice of the populist director could ruffle arthouse feathers.

Overall, Miller's films defy easy categorisation. Aside from the apocalyptic Mad Max series, the supernatural comedy The Witches of Eastwick and the drama Lorenzo's Oil, Miller is the maker of firm family favourites Babe and the animation Happy Feet.

The 69th Cannes Film Festival will take over the French Riviera resort from 11-22 May. Its official line-up and the other jury members will be announced in April.