French composer Desplat to chair Venice Film Fest jury

'Italian cinema my biggest influence' says Oscar nominee

(ANSA) - Venice, June 23 - Award-winning French composer Alexandre Desplat was named president of the International Jury for the Competition section of the 71st Venice International Film Festival on Monday. "Alexandre Desplat is not only one of the great contemporary composers of film scores, but a passionate cinephile, whose extraordinary artistic sensitivity is complemented by a deep knowledge of cinema, its history, its language", Venice Film Festival Director Alberto Barbera said.

Desplat is a six-time Academy-award nominee for The Queen, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The King's Speech, Argo, Philomena, as well a winner of a BAFTA, Golden Globe, three Cèsars (the national film award of France) and two European Film awards. "It is a great honor and a daunting responsibility to be president of the jury of such a prestigious festival. Italian cinema has influenced both my taste and my music more than anything else and I'm proud to come to the Venice Film Festival the year following Bernardo Bertolucci," Desplat said. The Venice Film Festival takes place from August 27 to September 6, with Desplat and jury presenting awards, including the coveted Golden Lion for best film, on September 6.