Alexander Payne will manage the work of the jury at the Venice festival

American director Alexander Payne, a two -time Oscar winner: for the script for the films “Wilderness” and “Heirs”, will chair the work of the jury of the main competition at the Film Festival in Venice. Payne of directing was studied from the Polish master Jerzy Antczak, who for years lectured at the University of California in Los Angeles. The event at Venetian Lido will take place from August 27 – September 6.

Alberto Barbera, for many years of the artistic director of the International Film Film Festival in Venice, informed about the selection of the organizers. Whoever follows the oldest film festival in the world organized on the island of Lido, will notice that in recent years they like to choose American filmmakers as the chairmen of the jury of the main competition.

In 2023, the jury was presided over by another director from overseas Damien Chazelle, in 2022 this function was performed by the American actress Julianne Moore. Last year, the “American landing” was interrupted by the French star Isabelle Huppert, after which we have the jury of the American again. Importantly – the creator of the cinema wearing a clear original stamp.

The 82nd International Film Festival in Venice will take place from August 27-6.

“The perfect candidate for the chairman of the jury”

Commenting on the nomination as the chairman of the jury, Alexander Payne wrote in the statement: “It is a huge honor and joy to direct the work of the jury of the Venice festival. Although I share the ambivalent attitude of filmmakers to the issue of comparing films with each other, I respect almost 100 years of the history of the Film Festival in Venice, in which the celebration of the film as a form of art is unusual. more excited. “

In turn, director Alberto Barber, justifying the choice of Payne, said: “Alexander Payne, belongs to the narrow circle of filmmakers -cinema, whose passion for the cinema is fueled by knowledge of films from the past and the curiosity of modern cinema, without borders and barriers. These features – along with his experience as a screenwriter – make him an ideal candidate to presise the work of jury in Venice, which is Creteed to assess very different films from around the world.

For now, we do not know the rest of the composition of the jury of the main competition, which usually – like the list of competition films – the organizers announce in July, a month before the start of the event.

A talented student of Jerzy Antczak

Alexander Payne, born 64 years ago in Nebraska, in the state of Omaha, has Greek roots on the side of his father. His first name, which he does not use publicly, is Constantine. He is known for his satirical representations of modern American society, which, perhaps thanks to the “foreign element”, which he sometimes mentions, can look with a distance.

An interesting fact, but also the reason for us is that Alexander Payne in the 1990s was a student of the creator of “Night and Days”, an outstanding Polish director Jerzy Antczak, who from the mid -1980s lectured at the aforementioned UCLA direction, as a professor. Payne emphasized many times in interviews how inspiring for his students he was, how he infected with his energy and taught not to be afraid of challenges.

After directed several short films, Payne made his debut in the feature film thanks to the political satire “Elections” (1999), for which he received the first nomination for Oscar in the “Best Scenario Adapted” category. Then there was also a warm comedy drama with Jacek Nicholson in the title role “Schmidt” (2002). Nicholson, who played here in an annoying, egoistic pensioner, won the Golden Globe for her and the last of his 12 Oscar nominations in his career.

In 2004, Payne directed the wonderful “wilderness” – masterful, full of humor, but also reflection on the life of the cinema, for which he won his first Oscar for the best adapted script. The image was nominated for 5 statuettes, also in the “Best Film” and “Director” categories. From this film, his cooperation with the excellent Paul Giamatti, which is still ongoing today, dates back to this day.

The second Oscar, in the same category, brought him a film with George Clooney in the main role of “Heir”, a story about a father who, abandoned by his wife, must cope with the upbringing of adolescent daughters. Again, five Oscar nominations, including the most important -film and direction, confirmed his talent. A year later, “Nebraska” was created – a nostalgic road cinema about the journey of the father and son, which will turn out to be a therapy for their difficult relationships. This picture brought him 6 nominations, again in the main categories.

In 2023, a film was made by critics considered the most outstanding work of Payne: “Winter solstice”. The great pity that this masterfully composed and directed story about a certain Christmas in the 1970s, which came to spend together at a private school, student, teachers and cook, had to settle for only one statuette for the supporting role for Da'vine Joy Randolph. The sensational in the role of a grumpy teacher Giamotti lost with the unrivaled Cillian Murphy, who won the statuette for the title creation in “Oppenheimer” Nolan.

However, knowing the possibilities, talent and imagination of Payne, he remains patiently waiting for the next films of this director, who with or without Oscars, always turn out to be events. It should also be expected that, as the chairman of the jury in Lido, the director will want to appreciate the original, fresh cinema. This is a comforting message, because in recent years the most important festivals of the “A” class are rewarding for known names, regardless of the fact that they honor at most medium -sized works.