July 16, 2008–The Venice film fest announced on Wednesday the full jury to lineup with president Wim Wenders. The German helmer of “Paris, Texas” and “Wings of Desire” will lead a panel of actors, artists and filmmakers from Europe, Asia and the Americas in deciding who wins the coveted Golden Lion for the fest, which runs from August 27 to September 6.
The jury includes screenwriter Yuri Arabov, a prominent figure in contemporary Russian cinema, and the popular Italian actress Valeria Golino, who worked with Mike Figgis and Nicolas Cage in “Leaving Las Vegas.”
The U.S. is repped by cult helmer John Landis (“Trading Places,” “American Werewolf in London”). Argentine director Lucrecia Martel, and Hong Kong director Johnnie To are also on the panel. British visual artist Douglas Gordo, the 1996 Turner Prize winner, completes the lineup.
The Golden Lion and other prizes will be awarded on September 6.
Recent winners have included “Vera Drake” by Mike Leigh in 2004, and Ang Lee's “Brokeback Mountain” in 2005. Zhang Ke Jia won in 2006 with “Still Life” and Lee captured the Lion again last year with “Lust, Caution.”
