“Nomadland”
director Chloe Zhao will join fellow Oscar-winning filmmaker Bong Joon-ho on
the main jury at this year’s Venice International Film Festival, organisers
said on Wednesday.

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Zhao’s
Nomadland (2020), which attracted international recognition and won many
awards, was also the Golden Lion  winner
at the Venice Film Festival. It has also got the People’s Choice Award at the
Toronto International Film Festival, and numerous Best Picture awards.

Her
debut feature film, Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015), was premiered at
Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim and earned a nomination for the
Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. Her second feature film, The
Rider (2017), was critically acclaimed and received nominations for the
Independent Spirit Award for Best Film and Best Director.

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The
judging line-up for the 78th edition of the Venice Film Festival held in the
Italian lagoon city will also include “Widows” and “Harriet” actress Cynthia
Erivo and filmmaker Alexander Nanau, a nominee at this year’s Oscars for
documentary “Colectiv”.

Virginie
Efira, star of this month’s Cannes Film Festival contender “Benedetta”, actress
Sarah Gadon, known for “Alias Grace” and “Enemy”, and Italian director Saverio
Costanzo complete the line-up.

The
festival earlier this year had already announced “Parasite” director Bong as
the president of the jury, which hands out the event’s main Golden Lion prize.
“Nomadland” won the award at Venice last September.

This
year’s festival runs from September 1-11.