Annette Bening to head Venice Film Festival jury

Actress Annette Bening will preside over the jury of the upcoming 74th Venice Film Festival, ending an 11-year succession of male jury chiefs on the Lido.

"It was time to break with a long list of male presidents and invite a brilliant talented and inspiring woman to chair our international competition jury," Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera said in a statement, according to Variety.

The last time a woman headed the Venice fest jury was in 2006, when French actress Catherine Deneuve oversaw the panel.

"I am extremely happy that Annette Bening has accepted this role, which she will carry out by virtue of her stature, her intellect and the talents she has manifested over the course of her career, in Hollywood, Europe and on the stage," Barbera added.
 

Bening is the sixth female jury president of the world's oldest film festival, following in the footsteps of Deneuve, Chinese actress Gong Li (2002), Australian director Jane Campion (1997), French actress and director Sabine Azema (1987), and Italian screenwriter Suso Cecchi D'Amico (1980).

Last year the Venice jury was headed by Sam Mendes, who directed Bening in "American Beauty."

"I'm honoured to be asked to serve as the president of the jury for this year's Venice Film Festival," Bening said in a statement.

"I look forward to seeing the movies and working with my fellow jury members to celebrate the best of this year's cinema from all over the world."

The 74th Venice Film Festival will run August 30 to September 9.