ROME, April 28, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Venice Film Festival organisers announced on 
Monday that US film director Alexander Payne would be president of the 
competition's jury this year.

Payne, 64, has won two Oscars and two Golden Globes for his screenplays and 
is best known for films such as "Sideways", "The Descendants" and "About 
Schmidt".

"It's an enormous honour and joy to serve on the jury at Venice," Payne said 
in a statement released by the festival's organisers, La Biennale di Venezia.

"I couldn't be more excited," he added.

The Biennale's board of directors followed the recommendation of Venice Film 
Festival director Alberto Barbera, the statement said.

"Alexander Payne belongs to the small circle of filmmakers-cinephiles whose 
passion for cinema is fuelled by knowledge of films of the past and curiosity 
about contemporary cinema, without boundaries or barriers of any kind," 
Barbera said, adding that the American was the "ideal" candidate for the 
role.

The jury at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival will decide who wins 
the Golden Lion for best film and other prizes.

Payne, who has never won a prize in Venice, made his feature film debut with 
"Citizen Ruth" in 1996.

"Sideways" won him both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for best screenplay.

In the same category, he won an Oscar for "The Descendants" and a Golden 
Globe for "About Schmidt".

The 82nd Venice Film Festival takes place in the watery Italian city from 
August 27 to September 6.