Meet the two Arab jurors at Venice Film Festival 2024

Directors Abderrahmane Sissako and Soudade Kaadan are set to join two panels at next month's event

Soudade Kaadan is a previous winner at the Venice showcase, picking up an award for her film Nezouh in 2022. Getty Images

Venice Film Festival returns next month with a host of highly anticipated premieres including Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Todd Phillips’s Joker: Folie a Deux, Justin Kurzel’s The Order and Pedro Almodovar’s The Room Next Door.

However, away from Hollywood's star names, Arab participation at the event will be front and centre for many in the region.

As well as a host of films from creatives in the Middle East and North Africa that will be screened, two Arab filmmakers have been chosen to serve on juries: Mauritanian director Abderrahmane Sissako and Syrian filmmaker Soudade Kaadan.

Here's what to know about them.

Abderrahmane Sissako

Abderrahmane Sissako, right, joins Wim Wenders at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022. Getty Images

Chosen to serve on the Main Competition jury, Sissako garnered international acclaim for his poignant exploration of themes such as globalisation, exile and the human experience.

Sissako's directorial career soared with films like 2002’s Waiting for Happiness, which won the Fipresci Prize in Cannes's Un Certain Regard. His 2006 film Bamako drew attention for its bold critique of global economic institutions, but it was 2014’s Timbuktu that cemented his reputation, competing for the Palme d'Or at Cannes and earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.

His filmmaking style is characterised by slow pacing that allows viewers to immerse themselves in the intricacies of his narratives while contemplating the broader socio-political contexts. Sissako’s films often feature non-professional actors, adding authenticity to his portrayals and bridging the gap between fiction and reality.

Sissako has also been active in cultural and humanitarian causes, notably signing an open letter last year advocating for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid during the Israeli invasion of Gaza. He has also served on prestigious film festival juries, including Cannes and Moscow, and has been a cultural advisor to Mauritanian leaders.

During a visit to the UAE to screen Timbuktu at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival in 2014, Sissako said: “To bring the movie anywhere is a good thing – but especially in this part of the world because cinema is very new for many people here, and it’s important to take the view of not only Hollywood.”

Sissako will be on a jury that includes American filmmaker James Gray, British filmmaker Andrew Haigh, Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi and French actress Isabelle Huppert, who will also serve as the jury president.

Soudade Kaadan

Soudade Kaadan will help judge the Orizzonti category. Getty Images

Chosen to serve on the Orizzonti category panel, Kaadan is known for her exploration of human resilience during times of conflict. Born and raised in Damascus, Kaadan's films reflect the stark realities faced by ordinary Syrians, capturing both the devastation of war and the enduring spirit of hope.

Her notable films include the short The Day I Lost My Shadow, which won the Lion of the Future Award for Best Debut Film at the Venice Film Festival in 2018. Set during the Syrian Civil War, the film portrays the challenges faced by a mother and her young son as they navigate a day of hardship and loss.

Kaadan is also known to use film as a platform for advocacy and awareness. She actively promotes the voices of Syrian artists and filmmakers, striving to amplify their stories on the global stage while shedding light on the resilience and creativity that endure amid adversity.

Speaking to The Guardian about her 2022 film Nezouh, Kaadan said: “They want us to simplify the complexity of the Syrian war for western audiences, I refuse to do that. They want films from Syria to be explanatory and informative and not a film with storytelling, with a personal point of view.”

Kaadan will be on a jury that includes Iranian filmmaker and producer Ali Asgari, Italian filmmaker Valia Santella, Greek filmmaker Christos Nikou and American filmmaker and cinematographer Debra Granik, who will serve as the jury president.

Venice Film Festival is set to run from August 28 to September 7