He spoke at a socially distanced press conference with other members of the jury.
“Because of COVID in Korea and in the rest of the world, filmmakers had a very tough time last year and this year. But in a way, looking back, it feels like this was a test, and what it has shown is the life force of cinema. "
The jury includes:
Last year's best picture winner (and 2 other Oscar wins) Chloe Zhao (Nomadland) Nomadland won last years big prize the Golden Lion at Venice.
French actress Virginie Efira - Benedetta
Italian director Saverio Costanzo - Hungry Hearts
Canadian actress and producer Sarah Gadon - Enemy
Romanian documentary maker Alexander Nanau - Collective
British actress and sing/songwriter Cynthia Erivo - Harriet, Widows
The jury prizes include the Golden Lion - best picture
Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize
Silver Lion - best director
Coppa Volpi - best actress
Coppa Volpi - best actor
Special jury prize
Best screenplay
“Marcello Mastroianni” Award for best new young actor or actress
2021 competition lineup includes some real notables:
Pedro Almodóvar - Parallel Mothers, starring Penélope Cruz
Paolo Sorrentino - autobiographical feature The Hand of God
Jane Campion - with literary adaptation The Power of the Dog, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst
Pablo Larraín - Spencer, starring Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana
Paul Schrader - writer/director with Oscar Isaac-starring The Card Counter
Maggie Gyllenhaal - making her feature directorial debut with The Lost Daughter with Olivia Colman and Peter Sarsgaard
Fest runs Sept. 1-11, 202. Awards are handed out Sept. 10, 2021.