Akinola Davies Jr & Ted Hope Among Venice Sidebar Jury Members 

Venice has locked the jury members for its Orizzonti and debut film competitions. 

The Orizzonti competition will be chaired by French director, actress, and screenwriter Valérie Donzelli, with jury members including American film distributor Peter Becker; the Hong Kong-American director Elizabeth Lo; Mexican director and screenwriter David Pablos; and Italian actress Barbara Ronchi.

Italian screenwriter and director Carolina Cavalli will chair the international jury of the Luigi De Laurentiis Venice Award for a Debut Film. British-Nigerian filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr. and American producer Ted Hope will complete the debut film jury. 

Maggie Gyllenhaal will preside over the official Venice competition. She will be joined by Tunisian director and screenwriter Kaouther Ben Hania; the English composer and artist Daniel Blumberg; the Italian professor Francesco Casetti; the French director and screenwriter Xavier Giannoli; the Afghan director and screenwriter Shahrbanoo Sadat; and the Hong Kong director and producer Johnnie To.

George Clooney will receive the Golden Lion for lifetime achievement. Clooney, who has close ties to Italy and the festival, has been on the Lido with multiple films over the years, including most recently with Netflix’s Jay Kelly.

The 83rd Venice International Film Festival runs from 2 to 12 September 2026.