‘Winter’s Bone’ Director Debra Granik to Head Venice Horizons Jury, Taylor Russell Joins First Works Jury Panel

Oscar-nominated U.S. director Debra Granik (“Winter’s Bone”) will preside over the jury of  the Venice Film Festival’s Horizons (Orizzonti) section dedicated to more cutting-edge works.

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Granik will be joined on the Horizons jury by Iranian writer, director and producer Ali Asgari (“Terrestrial Verses”); Syrian film director and screenwriter Soudade Kaadan (“The Day I Lost My Shadow”); Greek director, screenwriter and producer Christos Nikou (“Apples”); Swedish actress and director Tuva Novotny (“Britt-Marie Was Here”); Hungarian filmmaker Gábor Reisz (“Explanation for Everything”); and Italian screenwriter and director Valia Santella (“I Can See It in Your Eyes”).

“Winter’s Bone” won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2010 and was nominated for four Oscars, including best picture and best adapted Screenplay for Granik and co-writer Anne Rosellini. Her first film, “Down to the Bone,” won Granik the best director prize at Sundance in 2004. In 2015, Granik completed the feature doc “Stray Dog.” Her 2018 film, “Leave No Trace” went to Sundance and Cannes. Granik has just finished editing the five-part doc “Conbody VS Everybody.” Her next project is an adaptation of “Nickel and Dimed” by Barbara Ehrenreich, according to the Venice statement.

Additionally, Italian critic Gianni Canova will head the jury for the “Luigi de Laurentiis” award for best first work across all Venice sections, which is worth $100,000.

Joining Canova on the Venice jury for best first work are Canadian actor/director Taylor Russell (“Bones and All”); U.S. writer-director Ricky D’Ambrose (“The Cathedral”); Brazilian multi-hyphenate Barbara Paz (“Babenco – Tell me when I die”); and film festival curator and project market director Jacob Wong who has long been associated with the Hong Kong Film Festival.

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As previously announced, Isabelle Huppert will preside over the main Venice jury.

The 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival will run Aug. 28-Sept. 7. The full lineup will be announced on July 23.

Venice Film Festival Jury: Andrew Haigh, Agnieszka Holland, James Gray and More Join President Isabelle Huppert