American director, actress, screenwriter and producer Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Lost Daughter, The Bride!, Crazy Heart) has been named president of the International Jury of the Competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival (2-12 September 2026), which will assign the Golden Lion for Best Film, as well as other official awards.
The decision was made by the Board of Directors of La Biennale di Venezia, who confirmed the recommendation of the director of the Venice Film Festival, Alberto Barbera.
In accepting the proposal, Gyllenhaal said: “I am thrilled to accept the invitation to lead this year’s Venice Film Festival jury.
“Venice has always supported truthful, singular voices and I am honoured to play a part in continuing that brave and necessary tradition. I will not be standing in judgement, but in curiosity, admiration and excitement.”
Barbera added: “Maggie Gyllenhaal embodies an artistic path of uncommon consistency, constructed over time with intelligence and courage.
“An actress who is able to portray disturbing and multifaceted characters, she also reinvented herself as an author with The Lost Daughter, which won the Best Screenplay award here in Venice in 2021.
“Her perspective on cinema – both intellectual and visceral – has found further confirmation in the recent film The Bride! (2026), which consolidates her stature as an original filmmaker.
“Having her as the president of our jury means being able to rely on an authoritative and independent voice, animated by that authentic passion for arthouse cinema which has always represented the heart of the festival.”
On the final night of the festival, the International Jury of Venezia 83, chaired by Gyllenhaal and composed of no more than seven international celebrities in the spheres of film and culture from different countries, will assign the following official prizes among the feature-length films in the Competition:
- Golden Lion for Best Film
- Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize
- Silver Lion – Award for Best Director
- Coppa Volpi for Best Actress
- Coppa Volpi for Best Actor
- Special Jury Prize
- Award for Best Screenplay
- Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress
