Parasite director Bong Joon Ho to go Venice Film Festival jury

Parasite director Bong Joon Ho has been chosen as jury president of the 78th Venice International Film Festival, organizers mentioned Friday. The Oscar-winner will preside over seven jurors handy out the pageant’s prime awards, together with the celebrated Golden Lion. He’ll be the primary South Korean to carry the publish.
In a press release, the director mentioned he’s, “Honored to be woven into its beautiful cinematic tradition. As president of the jury — and more importantly as a perpetual cinephile — I’m ready to admire and applaud all the great films selected by the festival. I’m filled with genuine hope and excitement.”
Festival director Alberto Barbera remarked upon the historic nature of the choice.
“We are immensely grateful to him for having agreed to put his passion as a cinephile attentive, inquisitive and unprejudiced, at the service of our festival,” Barbera mentioned. “The decision to entrust the Jury to a Korean filmmaker, for the first time in the festival’s history, is also confirmation that the Venetian event embraces the cinema of the entire world, and that directors from every country know they can consider Venice their second home.”

The Venice Film Festival was one of many solely main movie festivals to proceed in particular person final yr amid the pandemic. The 78th version is ready to run from Sept. 1-11.