Spielberg has said that the position is an "honour and a privilege" and that "my admiration for the steadfast mission of the festival to champion the international language of movies is second to none. For over six decades, Cannes has served as a platform for extraordinary films to be discovered and introduced to the world for the first time."
Spielberg has himself submitted films to Cannes, with his first feature film, Sugarland Express, winning Best Screenplay in 1974, and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial premiering there as the festival's closing film in 1982.
Spieldberg's films have defined generations and childhoods, changing the game as he went along with films such as Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Jurassic Park, and another film in the same year as his record-breaking blockbuster hit, Schindler's List, winning him his only Best Picture Oscar thus far.
Cannes will run between the 15th and 26th of May and is the 66th year of the festival.