Congolese-Belgian actor Marc Zinga has been selected as part of the jury for the 2025 edition of the L’Œil d’Or, a documentary prize established by the Cannes Film Festival and La Scam, which is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary.
Zinga, who gained international recognition for his performances in films such as Dheepan (2015) and Tori and Lokita (2022), was born in Likasi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He moved to Belgium at the age of five.
The 2025 jury, chaired by French actress and producer Julie Gayet, also includes Chilean director Carmen Castillo, French producer Juliette Favreul Renaud, and Frédéric Maire, Director of the Cinémathèque suisse. The L’Œil d’Or prize will be awarded on May 23, 2025, at the Palais des Festivals.
The organisers said: “Since 2015, L’Œil d’or – the documentary prize of the Cannes Film festival rewards a film presented in the Official Selection: Competition, Un Certain Regard, Hors Competition, Midnight Screenings, Special Screenings, and Cannes Classics. Documentaries presented by the Directors’ Fortnight and Critics’ Week are also invited to participate. The prize is endowed with €5,000”.
Zinga appeared in the 2014 films Scouting for Zebras and May Allah Bless France! His performance in May Allah Bless France! earned him a César Award nomination for Most Promising Actor.
In 2015, he won the Magritte Award for Most Promising Actor at the 5th Magritte Awards for his role in Scouting for Zebras. And in 2019, he received the Best Actor Award at the Pan African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco) for his role in the Rwandese film The Mercy of the Jungle.
In 2024, Zinga also received his fourth Magritte nomination and second for Best Actor for his lead role as Koffi in the 2023 film Omen.
Marc Zinga is not the only African present at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Filmmakers Akinola Davies Jnr, Morad Mostafa, Erige Sehiri, and Oliver Hermanus all have projects selected for the Cannes. Directors Thomas Ngijol and Robin Campillo are have projects in the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.
