Venice Film Festival Unveils 2026 Jury President

Maggie Gyllenhaal has been announced as Jury President for the 83rd Venice Film Festival, running from September 2 to 12.

The actress and director follows in the wake of Alexander Payne (2025), Isabelle Huppert (2024), Damien Chazelle (2023), Julianne Moore (2022), Bong Joon-ho (2021) and Cate Blanchett (2020).

The decision was made by the Board of Directors of La Biennale di Venezia on the recommendation of Venice Film Festival Director Alberto Barbera, who recently had his mandate extended for another two years to include the 2027 and 2028 editions.

Gyllenhaal said of the honor: “I am thrilled to accept the invitation to lead this year’s Venice Film Festival jury. Venice has always supported truthful, singular voices and I am honored to play a part in continuing that brave and necessary tradition. I will not be standing in judgement, but in curiosity, admiration and excitement.”

Barbera praised the multifaceted career of Gyllenhaal who has been a regular guest of the festival.

“Maggie Gyllenhaal embodies an artistic path of uncommon consistency, constructed over time with intelligence and courage,” he said.

“An actress who is able to portray disturbing and multifaceted characters, she also reinvented herself as an author with The Lost Daughter, which won the Best Screenplay award here in Venice in 2021. Her perspective on cinema – both intellectual and visceral – has found further confirmation in the recent film The Bride! (2026), which consolidates her stature as an original filmmaker. Having her as the president of our jury means being able to rely on an authoritative and independent voice, animated by that authentic passion for arthouse cinema which has always represented the heart of the Festival.”

Gyllenhaalwill arrive at the festival in the wake of this year’s release of her Frankenstein-inspired The Bride! which she wrote, produced, and directed.  She made her directorial debut with her adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s novel The Lost Daughter, starring Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson, and Jessie Buckley, for which she also wrote the Venice-winning screenplay.

Her awarding wining acting credits include Secretary (2002), Sherrybaby (2006), Crazy Heart, which earned her an Oscar nomination. Other notable film performances include Donnie Darko (2001), Mona Lisa Smile (2003), Stranger Than Fiction (2006), The Dark Knight (2008), Nanny McPhee Returns (2010), Frank (2014) and The Kindergarten Teacher (2018).

The jury, the rest of the members of which will be announced closer to the festival, decides the Golden Lion for Best Film,  Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize,  Silver Lion – Award for Best Director, Coppa Volpi for Best Actress, Coppa Volpi for Best Actor,  Special Jury Prize, Award for Best Screenplay and Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress.

Venice’s jury president news comes on the heels of rival event Cannes adding another 16 titles to its 2026 line-up on Wednesday.

With the Cannes Official Selection essentially tied up, bar one or two last minute surprise additions, there is already talk about what might land in Venice in September, with chatter around titles such as 2025 Career Achievement Golden Lion honoree Werner Herzog’s Bucking Fastard and David Fincher’s The Adventures of Cliff Booth.

Payne’s jury last year feted Jim Jarmusch’s Cannes competition shut-out Father Mother Sister Brother with the Golden Lion, while Gaza-set drama The Voice of Hind Rajab won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize.