James Gray, Andrew Haigh, Agnieszka Holland Join Venice Film Festival Jury
The Venice Film Festival has unveiled the members of its main competition jury for the 81st edition, scheduled from August 28 to September 7, 2024. Renowned filmmakers James Gray, Andrew Haigh, and Agnieszka Holland are among the esteemed individuals chosen to judge the films in the prestigious event.
James Gray, whose film "Ad Astra" was in competition at Venice in 2019, brings significant experience to the panel. His debut film "Little Odessa" won the Silver Lion at Venice in 1994. Andrew Haigh, recognized for his critically acclaimed "All of Us Strangers" which received six BAFTA nominations, will also lend his expertise. Haigh’s other notable works include "Weekend" (2011), "45 Years" (2015), and "Lean On Pete" (2017). Agnieszka Holland, a celebrated director with several Oscar nominations, recently won the special jury prize at Venice for her film "The Green Border."
Joining them on the jury are Brazilian director and screenwriter Kleber Mendonça Filho, known for his films "Aquarius," "Bacurau," and "Pictures Of Ghosts," all of which were featured at Cannes. Mauritanian director Abderrahmane Sissako, whose film "Timbuktu" was nominated for an Oscar and won seven César awards, will also be on the panel. Italian director and screenwriter Giuseppe Tornatore, best known for his Oscar-winning film "Cinema Paradiso," brings further distinction to the jury.
German director Julia von Heinz, whose film "And Tomorrow The Entire World" was in competition at Venice in 2020, and her recent work "Treasure" premiered at Berlinale and Tribeca in 2024, adds to the diverse panel. Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, famed for her roles in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Memoirs Of A Geisha," completes the lineup.
The jury will be chaired by the esteemed actress Isabelle Huppert, who will lead the panel in awarding the Golden Lion for best film and other official accolades.
Last year's Golden Lion was awarded to Yorgos Lanthimos’ "Poor Things." The juries for the Horizons and Luigi De Laurentiis debut film awards will be announced at a later date.