‘Parasite’ director to head Venice film festival jury

South Korean director Bong Joon-ho, whose ‘Parasite’ became the first foreign-language film to win best picture in the nearly 100-year history of the Academy Awards and three other Oscars on top of that last year, has been named as jury president of the 2021 Venice Film Festival.

"I'm ready to admire and applaud all the great films selected by the festival. I'm filled with genuine hope and excitement," Bong said in a statement issued by festival organizers.

Calling Bong the first South Korean jury president of the Venice gala, festival director Alberto Barbera also saluted him as "one of the most authentic and original voices in worldwide cinema".

The Venice Film Festival is one of the most prestigious and the oldest in the world, rivaling with Cannes and Berlin. Its 78th edition is scheduled for September 1-11, 2021.

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