"I couldn't be more excited": Oscar-winning director Alexander Payne reacts to heading the jury of 82nd Venice Film Festival

Oscar-winning director Alexander Payne will be leading the jury of the 82nd Venice Film Festival.

Upon receiving the honor, he responded by saying:

"..I couldn’t be more excited."

Alexander Payne is a veteran filmmaker who is recognised for his work that involves satire and comedy. In his entire career, he has helmed eight movies, out of which, he received two Oscars for his films including Sideways (2004) and The Descendants (2011), in the category of Best Adapted Screenplay.

Payne has received 24 nominations at the Oscars. Payne has been an Oscar nominee multiple times, having nominated 3 times under the category of Best Director, and 4 times for Best Picture. His recent film The Holdovers (2023), has been nominated 5 times at the Oscars. Out of which, actor Da'Vine Joy Randolph took home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Let us find out what more did Alexander Payne say about heading the jury of 82nd Venice Film Festival.

“It’s an enormous honor" says Alexander Payne about heading the jury of 82nd Venice Film Festival

Upon being endowed with the honour of leading the jury of the 82nd Venice Film Festival, Alexander Payne expresses his excitement by stating:

“It’s an enormous honor and joy to serve on the jury at Venice,”

“Although I share a filmmaker’s ambivalence about comparing films against one another, I revere the Venice Film Festival’s nearly 100-year history of loudly celebrating film as an art form. I couldn’t be more excited.”

Director of the prestigious film festival, Alberto Barbera, talks about Alexander Payne's artistry saying:

[Payne] belongs to the small circle of filmmakers-cinephiles whose passion for cinema is fueled by knowledge of films of the past and curiosity about contemporary cinema, without boundaries or barriers of any kind.

Barbera also mentions about Payne's prowess as a screenwriter, whilst expressing his gratitude to him, as he adds:

"These qualities – along with his experience as a screenwriter – make him an ideal candidate to preside over the work of the Venice Jury, which is called upon to evaluate films from around the world. I am grateful to Alexander for accepting my invitation, which seals an acquaintance that goes back to the days of his graduation short film at UCLA.”

Alexander Payne has received 24 nominations at the Oscars. He has been an Oscar nominee multiple times, having nominated 3 times under the category of Best Director, and 4 times for Best Picture. His recent film, The Holdovers (2023), has been nominated 5 times at the Oscars. Out of which, actor Da'Vine Joy Randolph took home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Here is the list of the films directed by Payne:

• Citizen Ruth (1996)
• Election (1999)
• About Schmidt (2002)
• Sideways (2004)
• The Descendants (2011)
• Nebraska (2013)
• Downsizing (2017)
• The Holdovers (2023)

Alexander Payne had showcased his 2017 film, Downsizing, at the festival. Regarded as the world's earliest film festival, Venice Film Festival is a yearly film festival that takes place in Venice, Italy. The Golden Lion is the ultimate award that the film festival honors filmmakers every year.

Last year, filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar had received the honour for his film The Room Next Door (2024). Subsequently, Brady Corbet, helmer of The Brutalist (2024), had won The Silver Lion for the film.

Last year, Venice Film Festival took place from 28th August to 7th September 2024. This year, the festival is scheduled to commence on 27th August, and conclude by 6th September 2025.

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