President

Na Hong-jin Embraces Challenge as First Jury President at Busan International Film Festival’s Inaugural Competition

by

BUSAN, South Korea — Director Na Hong-jin is taking on a significant role as the inaugural jury president for the new competition section at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). He expressed his commitment to the judging process during a press conference at the Busan Cinema Center on Thursday. Reflecting on his return to such a prestigious platform after nearly a decade away from directing, Na admitted that the experience felt overwhelming. “Being on that stage again felt like a panic attack,” he said. With a keen sense of responsibility, he acknowledged the pressure of … Read more

Venice Film Festival’s Jury President Denies Resignation Rumors, Sparking Debate Over Award Integrity and Media Trust

by

Venice, Italy — A fierce denial from the head of a prominent film festival jury has sparked a firestorm of speculation and debate in the film community. Alexander Payne, the jury president, took to a press conference to address rumors that a juror had threatened to resign following the voting for awards. His blunt statement, urging the public not to trust circulating claims, quickly became a point of discussion regarding the integrity of the festival’s proceedings and its transparency. The controversy emerged after the awarding of the prestigious Golden Lion to filmmaker Jim Jarmusch’s movie … Read more

Venice Film Festival Jury President Defends Golden Lion Choice Amid Controversy Over Standing Ovation Favorite

by

Venice, Italy — Alexander Payne, president of the jury at the Venice Film Festival, addressed criticism on Saturday regarding the decision to award the festival’s prestigious Golden Lion to Jim Jarmusch’s film, “Father Mother Sister Brother.” This announcement came as a surprising turn for many, especially since Kaouther Ben Hania’s “The Voice of Hind Rajab” received an enthusiastic 22-minute standing ovation following its debut. During a press conference, Payne shared his thoughts on the inherent challenges of festival judging. “The unfair aspect of being at a festival is having to declare one film superior to … Read more

Carlo Chatrian Takes the Helm as Jury President for Tokyo International Film Festival, Promising a Groundbreaking Cinematic Experience

by

Tokyo, Japan – Carlo Chatrian has been appointed to lead the jury for the international competition at this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival. Known for his influential role in European cinema, Chatrian has previously directed prestigious events such as the Locarno Film Festival from 2013 to 2018 and the Berlin International Film Festival from 2020 to 2024. During his time at Berlin, Chatrian was instrumental in implementing significant policy changes, including the removal of gender-specific acting categories. This shift towards performance-based awards not only reshaped the festival’s format but also inspired similar changes at various … Read more