Damien Chazelle, the Oscar-winning director of hit movies La La Land and Whiplash, will lead the main competition jury at this year's Venice Film Festival, organisers have announced.
The French-American director, screenwriter and producer has close ties to the festival, having opened it with two of his films in the past decade — First Man in 2018 and La La Land in 2016.
"I am humbled and delighted to be invited to lead this year's jury," he said after his appointment was announced on Friday.
French director Alice Diop, whose first feature-length fiction film Saint Omer won the Silver Lion and Grand Jury Prize at last year's festival, will lead the jury to decide who should win the award for a debut film this year.
Critics were deeply divided over many of the films at the last festival, but it was a stellar year for individual actors.
There were rave reviews for Brendan Fraser, who made an unlikely comeback from the Hollywood wilderness as a morbidly obese English professor in The Whale. Fraser went on to win the Best Actor Oscar for the role.
Hugh Jackman's performance as a father dealing with a depressed teenager in The Son was also labelled the best of his career.
The jury last year was led by Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore.
The 80th edition of the festival, held on the lagoon city's Lido island, will run from August 30 to September 9. The movies in competition will be announced in July.
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Farhana Bodi in a powder-blue gown by Lebanese house Maison Geyanna Youness. Getty Images -
Timothee Chalamet in a backless outfit from Haider Ackermann. Getty -
Jodie Turner-Smith in a striped gown. Getty -
Taylor Russell in Balenciaga haute couture. AP -
British singer and actor Harry Styles in Gucci. EPA -
Jury president Julianne Moore in Giorgio Armani. Getty Images -
Sara Croce in a beaded gown by the Lebanese couture house Zuhair Murad. Getty -
Italian actress Sara Serraiocco in Fendi. EPA -
Nilufar Addati wears a gown by Lebanese designer Nicolas Jebran. Getty -
Leonie Hanne in a gown by the Lebanese couture house Georges Hobeika. Getty -
Actress Tessa Thompson in Marc Jacobs. Getty -
The shoes Tessa Thompson wore with her Marc Jacobs gown deserve a special mention. EPA -
Mia Goth in Dolce & Gabbana. -
Nicole Macchi wears a gown by Palestinian designer Ihab Jiryis. Getty Images -
Tessa Thompson poses in flame red Elie Saab. AP -
Rachel Brosnahan in midnight blue sequin top and skirt. Getty -
American director and actress Olivia Wilde in Gucci. AFP -
Sadie Sink in feathered a dress by Alexander McQueen. Getty -
Gemma Chan in sequined Louis Vuitton. AP -
French director Alice Diop in Valentino. AFP -
Tessa Thompson in Armani Prive haute couture. Getty -
Florence Pugh in sheer Valentino. Getty -
Tilda Swinton in Haider Ackermann. EPA -
Penelope Cruz in Chanel. AFP -
Jodie Turner-Smith in sheer Gucci. Getty -
Cate Blanchett in Schiaparelli. Getty -
Actress Rachel Brosnahan in Versace. EPA -
British actress Mia Goth in Dolce & Gabbana. AFP
