US director Damien Chazellethe French director Alice Diop and the Italian director Jonas Carpignanoare the three personalities called to preside over the international juries respectively of Venice 80, of the Venice Opera Prima Prize “Luigi De Laurentiis” and of the Orizzonti section of 80. Venice Biennale International Film Festival (30 August – 9 September 2023). The decision was taken by the Board of Directors of the Venice Biennale, which endorsed the proposal of the Artistic Director of the Exhibition, Alberto Barbera.

Damien Chazellein accepting the role of president of the Venice 80 international jury, said: “For ten days, every year, this city of art, of Tintoretto, Titian and Veronese, is transformed into a city of cinema, and I am flattered and honored to be invited to lead this year’s jury. Can’t wait to discover this new selection of great 80’s films. International Film Festival”.

Damien Chazelle he opened the Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica twice with one of his films, in 2016 with La La Land and in 2018 with First Man. La La Land garnered 14 Academy Award® nominations, winning six, including Best Director. Damien Chazelle was the youngest director ever to receive this award. First Man garnered 4 Academy Award® nominations, winning one. His feature debut, Whiplash (2014), received five Academy Award® nominations, winning three. His recent film Babylon (2022) received three Academy Award® nominations.

In accepting the appointment, Alice Diop he has declared: “It is a great honor and a great joy to be asked to preside over the jury of the “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Opera Prima Award at the Venice Film Festival, a festival that welcomed me and gave me so much last year. I will be happy to pass the baton this year, and to work to discover new emerging voices in the cinematographic panorama that the Festival has always had in mind to renew”.

With his fictional feature film debut, Saint Omer, Alice Diop in 2022 at the Venice International Film Festival he won both the Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize, and the Lion of the Future – Venice Opera Prima Award “Luigi De Laurentiis”. The film, nominated for France for an Oscar®, later won numerous international awards, including the César award for best first film, and the Jean Vigo award. With Nous (2020) he won the award for best documentary and for the best film in the Encounters section of the Berlin Film Festival.

In agreeing to preside over the Orizzonti jury, Jonas Carpignano he has declared: “It is a huge honor for me to lead the Orizzonti jury this year and I am very grateful to the Venice Film Festival for this privilege. Year after year, the rich and courageous selection of Horizons gives us a deep immersion in the world of cinema. I can’t wait to experience the emotions and get in touch with the realities that we’re going to get to know in the halls of the Lido. Having the opportunity to see some of the best films of the year, in one of the most beautiful settings in the world, is something very special”.

Jonas Carpignano debuted with Mediterranean (2015), presented at the Semaine de la Critique in Cannes, later nominated for three Spirit Awards and awarded Best First Film at the Gotham Awards. Two years after In Ciambra (2017), awarded in Cannes, is selected to represent Italy at the Oscars®. In Ciambra he gets seven nominations for the David di Donatello and wins the award for best director. In 2021 A Chiara, presented at the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs in Cannes, won the Europa Cinemas Label award, obtained six David nominations and won the award for best leading actress.