“ Parasite ” director Bong Joon Ho heads the Venice Film Festival jury



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“Parasite” director Bong Joon Ho will chair the main jury of the 78th Venice Film Festival in September, marking the first time that a South Korean director has been chosen as the Lido’s top jury.

Bong, who had no previous connection with Venice, made history in 2020 when “Parasite” became the first foreign-language film to win the award for best film in nearly 100 years of Oscar history – and three more Oscars – after winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2019.

“The Venice International Film Festival has a long and varied history with it, and I am honored to be part of its fine cinematographic tradition,” the director said in a statement. “As president of the jury – and above all as a perpetual cinephile – I am ready to admire and applaud all the great films selected by the festival. I am filled with sincere hope and excitement. “

Artistic Director of Venice Alberto Barbera in the statement noted that “The first good news about the 78th Venice Film Festival is that Bong Joon Ho enthusiastically agreed to chair the jury,” and called Bong ”one of the most authentic and original voices in world cinema. ”

“We are extremely grateful to him for agreeing to put his passion as an attentive, curious and unbiased film buff to the service of our festival,” added Barbera. “It is a pleasure and an honor to be able to share the joy of this moment with the countless admirers, around the world, of his extraordinary films.

Known for incorporating social issues into personal dramas, Bong has been an icon of Korean cinema since the charming but disturbing “Memories of Murder” in 2003. “The Host” in 2006 was one of the first South Korean films to reach $ 10 million in ticket sales, showing its history of putting the country on the map as a creative power.

His science fiction parable “Snowpiercer”, starring Chris Evans, John Hurt, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris and Octavia Spencer, marked Bong’s big international breakthrough, followed by “Okja” in 2017. Bong was also named one of Time’s “100 Most Influential People of 2020”.

Venice in 2020 managed the remarkable feat of being the only major international festival to hold a physical edition, albeit smaller than usual, despite the pandemic. The 77th edition of the event held in September, before the second wave of COVID 19 hit, seen Chloé Zhao’s acclaimed road movie “Nomadland”, starring Frances McDormand, wins the Golden Lion. “Nomadland” should now be a major player in awards, reinforcing the Lido’s status as the launching pad for awards season.

The 78th edition of Venice is scheduled from September 1 to 11, 2021



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