Cate Blanchett President of the Venezia 77 International Jury...

After having chaired the Cannes Film Festival in 2018, and received numerous awards including two Academy Awards and three Golden Globe, Cate Blanchett will be the Jury President of the 77th Venice Biennale International Film Festival, from 2 to 12 September 2020. 

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The decision was made on January 10 by the Biennale's board of directors chaired by Paolo Baratta - the same meeting during which Cecilia Alemani was appointed as director of the Contemporary Art Biennale - who welcomed the proposal Alberto Barbera, the artistic director for the cinema sector.

In accepting the proposal, Cate Blanchett said: “Every year I look expectantly to the selection at Venice and every year it is surprising and distinct. Venice is one of the most atmospheric film festivals in the world – a celebration of the provocative and inspirational medium that is cinema in all its forms. It is a privilege and a pleasure to be this year’s jury president.”

The International Jury of Venice 77, which will be chaired by Cate Blanchett and composed by a total of 7 personalities expert on cinema and cultural areas and all from different countries, will assign the following official prizes among the feature-length films in the Competition Golden Lion for Best Film; Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize; Silver Lion – Award for Best Director; Coppa Volpi for Best Actor; Coppa Volpi for Best Actress; Award for Best Screenplay; Special Jury Prize; Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress.

Alberto Barbera commented that “Cate Blanchett is not just an icon of contemporary cinema, courted by the greatest directors of the past twenty years and adored by moviegoers of every kind. Her commitment in the artistic and humanitarian fields and to the protection of the environment, as well as her defence of the emancipation of women in a film industry still coming to terms with male prejudice, have made her an inspiration for society as a whole. Her immense talent as an actress, combined with her unique intelligence and sincere passion for cinema, are the ideal qualities for a Jury President. It will be a great pleasure to welcome her to Venice again in this new capacity, after having applauded her magnificent performances in the films Elizabeth by Shekhar Kapur and I’m Not There by Todd Haynes, which won her the Coppa Volpi as Best Actress in 2007”.

Cover image: Portrait of Cate Blanchett

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