81st Venice International Film Festival
© Biennale di Venezia
Venice International Film Festival Unveils International Juries for Orizzonti and “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film
The Venice International Film Festival, now in its 81st edition, is set to dazzle audiences from August 28 to September 7, 2024. Under the stewardship of La Biennale di Venezia's director Alberto Barbera, the festival has announced the esteemed juries for two of its most prominent awards: Orizzonti and the “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film.
Orizzonti Jury
The Orizzonti section, which celebrates innovative and avant-garde films, will be presided over by the acclaimed American director and screenwriter Debra Granik. Known for her powerful narratives in films such as Winter's Bone and Leave No Trace, Granik brings a wealth of experience to the jury. She will be joined by a distinguished group of international filmmakers and industry professionals:
- Ali Asgari, an Iranian director renowned for his poignant storytelling, with recent works including Until Tomorrow and Terrestrial Verses.
- Soudade Kaadan, a Syrian filmmaker celebrated for her award-winning films like The Day I Lost My Shadow and Nezouh.
- Christos Nikou, a Greek director known for his innovative film Apples and recent English-language project Fingernails.
- Tuva Novotny, a Swedish actress and director whose recent works include Diorama and The Abyss.
- Gábor Reisz, a Hungarian filmmaker acclaimed for For Some Inexplicable Reason and Explanation for Everything.
- Valia Santella, an Italian screenwriter and director whose notable collaborations include work with Marco Bellocchio and Valeria Golino.
The Orizzonti Jury will award several prizes, including Best Film, Best Director, Special Jury Prize, and awards for acting and screenplay, with no joint awards allowed.
“Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film Jury
The “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film, also known as the Lion of the Future, will be judged by a jury chaired by Italian film critic Gianni Canova. Canova, a prominent figure in film criticism and academia, will lead a panel composed of:
- Ricky D’Ambrose, an American writer and director recognized for The Cathedral and Notes on an Appearance.
- Barbara Paz, a Brazilian director and actress known for her documentary Babenco – Tell me when I die.
- Taylor Russell, a Canadian actress and director celebrated for her role in Bones and All and her directorial debut The Heart Still Hums.
- Jacob Wong, a seasoned film festival curator and project market director associated with the Hong Kong Film Festival and Berlinale.
The “Luigi De Laurentiis” Jury will award the Lion of the Future to one debut feature-length film selected from various competitive sections of the festival. This award includes a cash prize of 100,000 USD, divided equally between the director and producer.
As anticipation builds for the 81st Venice International Film Festival, the selection of these distinguished juries promises a celebration of global cinema and a spotlight on emerging talents. All official awards will be revealed during the closing ceremony on September 7, 2024, at the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema at the Venice Lido.