Venice Film Festival Announces Horizons Jury, Headed by Debra Granik

The Venice Film Festival has announced the jury for its Horizons (Orizzonti) section, dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge cinema. The jury will be led by Oscar-nominated American director Debra Granik, known for her acclaimed films "Winter's Bone" and "Leave No Trace."

Granik will be joined by a diverse and esteemed group of international filmmakers, including:

Ali Asgari: Iranian writer, director, and producer known for his work "Terrestrial Verses."

Soudade Kaadan: Syrian film director and screenwriter whose credits include "The Day I Lost My Shadow."

Christos Nikou: Greek director, screenwriter, and producer recognized for "Apples."

Tuva Novotny: Swedish actress and director with "Britt-Marie Was Here" to her name.

Gábor Reisz: Hungarian filmmaker behind "Explanation for Everything."

Valia Santella: Italian screenwriter and director of "I Can See It in Your Eyes."

Granik has a strong history of recognition in the independent film world. "Winter's Bone" garnered critical acclaim, earning four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. Her previous work, "Down to the Bone," secured her the Best Director award at Sundance in 2004. Granik's most recent film, "Leave No Trace," premiered at both Sundance and Cannes. She is currently working on the five-part documentary "Conbody VS Everybody" and an adaptation of Barbara Ehrenreich's "Nickel and Dimed."

Alongside the Horizons jury, Italian critic Gianni Canova will lead the jury for the prestigious "Luigi de Laurentiis" award, recognizing the best first work across all Venice sections. The award comes with a prize of $100,000. Joining Canova on this jury are:

Taylor Russell: Canadian actor/director known for "Bones and All."

Ricky D'Ambrose: American writer-director of "The Cathedral."

Barbara Paz: Brazilian multi-hyphenate artist known for her work on "Babenco – Tell me when I die."

Jacob Wong: Film festival curator and project market director associated with the Hong Kong Film Festival.

The 81st Venice Film Festival will take place from August 28th to September 7th, with the full lineup set to be announced on July 23rd. The festival's main jury will be presided over by acclaimed French actress Isabelle Huppert.