The 81st Venice International Film Festival has chosen the members of its international juries prior to the much-anticipated event. The Orizzonti (Horizons section) jury for this year’s festival is a diverse group with renowned individuals from different parts of the world. The jury includes American director and screenwriter Debra Granik as the Chair, Iranian writer, director, and producer Ali Asgari, Syrian film director and screenwriter Soudade Kaadan, Greek director, screenwriter, and producer Christos Nikou, Swedish actress and director Tuva Novotny, Hungarian filmmaker Gábor Reisz, and Italian screenwriter and director Valia Santell.
The Orizzonti Jury will be responsible for awarding several key prizes in the Horizons section. These prizes include the Orizzonti Award for Best Film, the Orizzonti Award for Best Director, the Special Orizzonti Jury Prize, the Orizzonti Award for Best Actress, the Orizzonti Award for Best Actor, the Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay, and the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film. It is noteworthy that joint awards are not allowed for any of these categories, ensuring that each recipient is recognized individually for their outstanding work.
The international jury of the “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award, also known as the “Lion of the Future” for a Debut Film, is another prestigious panel at the festival. This jury is chaired by Italian film critic Gianni Canova and includes American writer and director Ricky D’Ambrose, Brazilian director, visual artist, actress, and producer Barbara Paz, Canadian actress and director Taylor Russell, and film festival curator and project market director Jacob Wong.
The Luigi De Laurentiis Venice Award for a Debut Film is a coveted prize that will be bestowed upon one of the debut feature-length films selected from the various competitive sections of the Venice Film Festival. The Lion of the Future – “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film comes with a substantial cash prize of $100,000 donated by Filmauro, which will be equally divided between the director and the producer of the winning film. This award serves as a significant recognition of emerging talent in the film industry and provides financial support to further their careers.
All the official awards, including those from the Orizzonti and Luigi De Laurentiis Venice Award juries, will be revealed during the closing ceremony of the 81st Venice International Film Festival. The prestigious event is set to take place on Saturday, September 7, on the stage of the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema at the Venice Lido. It will be a momentous occasion to celebrate the outstanding contributions of filmmakers and artists from around the globe who have showcased their exceptional talents at the festival.
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