French actor Isabelle Huppert to lead Venice Film Festival jury
The 81st Venice Film Festival has announced that renowned French actor Isabelle Huppert will preside over the jury for its primary competition. The festival, scheduled from August 28 to September 7, confirmed this decision following a recommendation from Alberto Barbera, the festival's director. Expressing her delight and honor at this appointment, Huppert stated, "There is a long and beautiful history between the Festival and I. Becoming a privileged spectator is an honor."
Huppert's long-standing association with Venice Film Festival
Huppert's relationship with this festival spans several years. She has twice been awarded the festival's Coppa Volpi for best actor for her performances in Story of Women (1988) and La Cérémonie (1995). In 2005, Huppert received a Special Golden Lion for her comprehensive work in Gabrielle by Patrice Chéreau. Reflecting on cinema, she said, "More than ever, cinema is a promise. The promise to escape, to disrupt, to surprise, to take a good look at the world."
'Her enormous willingness...make her an ideal President of Jury'
Barbera, the festival's director, praised Huppert for her talent and dedication to cinema. He described her as "an immense actor, demanding, curious, and of great generosity." Barbera emphasized, "Her enormous willingness to constantly put herself on the line, a sign of her uncommon intelligence, together with her ability to look at cinema beyond geographic and mental boundaries, make her an ideal President of the Jury in a festival open to the entire world such as the Venice Film Festival."
Huppert's distinguished career and role as jury president
Huppert's illustrious career includes over 150 film roles. Notably her performance in Elle (2016) by Paul Verhoeven earned her an Oscar nomination, a Golden Globe, and an Independent Spirit Award. In 2022, she was honored with the Honorary Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. As the head of the Venice jury, Huppert will be involved in awarding prestigious prizes such as the Golden Lion for Best Film and the Silver Lion for Best Director, among other awards.
Meanwhile, Huppert shares a connection with Cannes, too
Venice Film Festival aside, Huppert shares a special relationship with the Cannes Film Festival, too. Huppert's connection to Cannes dates back to 1978 when she won the Best Actress award for her role in Claude Chabrol's Violette. Over the years, she has starred in eight films directed by Chabrol. She later secured her second Best Actress award at Cannes in 2001 for her performance in Michael Haneke's The Piano. Meanwhile, the 77th Cannes edition will run from May 14.
