As the 81st Venice Film Festival kicks off, French actress and jury president Isabelle Huppert shared her apprehensions about the current state of the film industry, while also celebrating the importance of film festivals like Venice in keeping the art form alive.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Huppert acknowledged the challenges facing filmmakers today, particularly in an industry increasingly dominated by technological changes and financial difficulties. “I’m worried about the things everyone is worried about—whether cinema can continue to survive—because it’s very fragile now,” Huppert stated. “Making a film is a collective effort, something we offer to the world. My concern is whether our world will still resonate with people. That’s why the Venice Film Festival is so crucial, and I’m honored to be here.”
Despite the worries, Venice’s artistic director Alberto Barbera struck a more optimistic note, highlighting the festival’s ability to attract top talent and big-name stars. He pointed out that this year’s event will see more celebrities on the red carpet than in any recent memory, reflecting the festival’s continued prominence in the global film calendar.
Joining the conversation, U.S. director Debra Granik, who leads the jury for Venice’s Horizons section, expressed gratitude to Huppert for addressing the “elephant in the room.” Granik emphasized the importance of festivals in supporting filmmakers who tell stories that might otherwise be overlooked by mainstream cinema. “Festivals are now perhaps acts of defiance, going against the grain,” Granik said. She praised the Venice Film Festival for its longevity and ability to adapt, noting that “80 years of solidity and mobility” have kept the festival relevant and vibrant.
Huppert also reflected on her role as jury president, sharing her excitement about the responsibility and the memories she has from previous Venice festivals. “By nature, juries are subjective,” she remarked. “That’s what makes them special. Our subjectivity leads us to make choices, and with choices comes the act of relinquishing others. Every film will be watched with deep consideration, and that in itself is a form of recognition for the filmmakers.”
This year, Huppert is joined on the main competition jury by an illustrious group of filmmakers and actors, including American director and screenwriter James Gray, British filmmaker Andrew Haigh, Polish director Agnieszka Holland, Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho, Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako, Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore, German director Julia von Heinz, and Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi.
The 81st Venice Film Festival opened Wednesday night with the world premiere of Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, shown out of competition. The festival will culminate on September 7 with the presentation of the Golden Lion for best film and other prestigious awards at the closing ceremony. As the event unfolds, the balance between celebrating cinema and addressing the industry’s challenges will undoubtedly be a central theme.
Follow https://adelaadven.net/ for more updates!