M. Night Shyamalan has been chosen to serve as the president of the international jury at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival next year, Variety is reporting. The festival is set to run February 10-20, 2022.

The appointment of the writer-director-producer was a surprise for long-time attendees of the festival, which is also known as Berlinale, as it’s driven by high-minded arthouse movies. The filmmaker, meanwhile, is known for making such box office and critically acclaimed independent horror hits as The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and its first sequel, Split, and Signs.

But the Berlin International Film Festival’s artistic director, Carlo Chatrian, supports the two-time Oscar-nominated helmer’s appointment. “I’m pleased and honored that M. Night Shyamalan has accepted our invitation to serve as president of the jury.

“Throughout his career he’s shaped a universe in which fears and desires stand side by side, where young people are not only the protagonists but also the driving force for overcoming dread. Within the U.S. movie business Shyamalan is a unique figure, a filmmaker that has remained faithful to his vision. This truthfulness to one’s ideal is also what we are looking for in our selection,” Berlinale’s artistic director added.

While discussing his appointment as the Berlin International Film Festival’s next jury president, the filmmaker added: “I have always felt like an independent filmmaker within the system of Hollywood. It is exactly those things in us that are different and unorthodox that define our voice. I have tried to maintain these things in myself and cheer others on to protect those aspects in their art and in themselves. Being asked to be a part of Berlinale is deeply meaningful to me.

It represents the highest imprimatur for a filmmaker.

Being able to support and celebrate the world’s very best talent in storytelling is a gift I happily accepted.”

After Berlinale held a hybrid online and in-person version earlier this year, due to the health concerns over COVID-19, it will return to being a completely in-person event from next year. Several related events that be held during the same time period, including the European Film Market (February 10-17), the Berlinale Co-Production Market (February 12-16) and Berlinale Talents (February 12-17) will feature on-site and online events. In addition, the Berlinale Series Market (February 14-16) will feature a selection of market screenings and a conference discussing high-end series.

Shyamalan’s most recent movie, the supernatural thriller, Old, which stars Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell and Alex Wolff, was released internationally in cinemas this past July. The scribe-helmer is currently working on his next film, Knock at the Cabin, which is expected to be released in February 2023.