“Parasite” director Bong Joon Ho will chair the grand jury at the 78th Venice Film Festival in September, marking the first time that a South Korean director has been chosen as the Lido’s chief judge.
Bong, who has no previous relationship with Venice, made history in 2020 when “Parasite” became the first foreign-language film to win the best film in almost 100 years of Oscar history – and three other Oscars in addition – after winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2019.
“The Venice International Film Festival carries with it a long and varied history, and I am honored to be involved in its beautiful cinematic tradition,” said the director in a statement. “As president of the jury – and more importantly as a perpetual film buff – I am ready to admire and applaud all the great films selected by the festival. I am full of genuine hope and enthusiasm. “
Artistic director of Venice Alberto Barberá in the statement noted that “The first good news about the 78th Venice Film Festival is that Bong Joon Ho enthusiastically agreed to preside over the jury” and called Bong “one of the most authentic and original voices in world cinema. ”
“We are immensely grateful to him for having agreed to put his passion for an attentive, curious and unprejudiced film buff at 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 integrating social issues into personal drama, Bong has been an icon of Korean cinema since the charming but troubling “Memories of Murder” in 2003. “The Host” in 2006 was one of South Korea’s first films to reach $ 10 million in ticket sales, showing its history of putting the country on the map as a creative powerhouse.
His science fiction parable “Snowpiercer”, starring Chris Evans, John Hurt, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris and Octavia Spencer, marked Bong’s great international success, followed by “Okja” in 2017. Bong she was also named one of Time’s “100 most influential people in 2020”.
Venice in 2020 accomplished the remarkable feat of being the only high-level international festival to hold a physical edition, although smaller than normal, despite the pandemic. The 77th edition of the event took place in September, before the start of the second wave of COVID 19, Saw Chloé Zhao’s acclaimed road movie “Nomadland”, starring Frances McDormand, won the Golden Lion. “Nomadland” is now expected to be a major prize player, reinforcing Lido’s status as a major award launching platform.
The 78th edition of Venice is scheduled for September 1-11, 2021