Frears has slated the Cannes Film Festival in the past

The director, whose movie The Queen has just received 10 Bafta nominations, said he felt privileged to be chosen.

"It's an honour, but it's also a treat to be able to watch terrific films from all over the world in such heady surroundings," he said.

The Cannes jury is responsible for deciding the film festival's highest award, the Palme d'Or.

Last year's Palme d'Or went to The Wind that Shakes the Barley, by British director Ken Loach.

It was chosen by a panel including actors Tim Roth, Samuel L Jackson and Monica Belluci, and headed by Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai.

Frears first came to attention in 1985 with My Beautiful Laundrette and was Oscar-nominated for 1990's The Grifters.

His other films include Dangerous Liaisons, High Fidelity and Mrs Henderson Presents.

In 2004, he launched an attack on the Cannes festival, saying it had become "vile" as its schedule filled up with Hollywood films.

The director said the movies that interested him were ones from "more eccentric places" - perhaps giving an indication of how he will lead this year's jury.