Venice Festival Announces 2026 Jury Led by Maggie Gyllenhaal

The full jury for the 83rd Venice International Film Festival has been announced, joining previously appointed president Maggie Gyllenhaal. The eclectic panel includes Hong Kong director Johnnie To, Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, Afghan filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat, French director and screenwriter Xavier Giannoli, British composer Daniel Blumberg, and Italian film scholar Francesco Casetti.

Gyllenhaal, an actress and director whose feature debut The Lost Daughter won the festival's best screenplay award in 2021, was named jury president in April. She becomes the third woman to head the jury in the past five years, following Isabelle Huppert in 2024 and Julianne Moore in 2022. In a statement at the time, Gyllenhaal said Venice has always supported truthful, singular voices, and she was honored to continue that tradition. She added that she would approach the role with curiosity, admiration, and excitement rather than judgment.

The jury will be responsible for awarding the festival's top competition prizes, including the Golden Lion for Best Film, the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize, the Silver Lion for Best Director, the Coppa Volpi awards for Best Actress and Best Actor, the...