Entertainment

Venice Film Festival: Politics and Diversity

Updated 2026-09-02 10:55 UTC 2 sources Neutral

Jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal addressed political themes at the Venice Film Festival, calling for empathy and highlighting the lack of female directors in competition. The discussions reflect broader industry concerns.

Coverage timeline — 3 articles

Deadline

Venice Jury Head Maggie Gyllenhaal Calls For Empathy In Politically Charged Times; Addresses Dearth Of Women In Competition: “It’s A Systemic Problem”

Venice Film Festival jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal called for empathy at the opening press conference for the 83rd edition on Wednesday, which gets underway against politically charged times. Asked whether cinema should be political, Gyllenhaal replied that filmmakers and spectators needed to be

2026-09-02 10:40 UTC

Variety

Ruben Östlund’s Plattform Produktion Boards Jessica Hausner’s Satirical Drama ‘Toxic’ Ahead of Venice Gap-Financing Market (EXCLUSIVE)

Ruben Östlund’s Plattform Produktion has joined “Toxic,” the forthcoming satirical workplace drama from “Club Zero” director Jessica Hausner, which is among the projects being pitched during the Venice Gap-Financing Market taking place Sept. 4 – 6. The pan-European co-production is produced by

2026-09-02 10:44 UTC

Variety

Venice Jury President Maggie Gyllenhaal Says Films Are ‘Fundamentally, Unavoidably Political’ and Questions Lack of Female Directors in Competition: ‘There’s a Systemic Problem’

It didn’t take long for politics to take the spotlight at this year’s Venice Film Festival jury press conference. Amid the wars raging in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as the unrest in the United States, jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal was asked whether cinema should be political. “OK,̶

2026-09-02 10:49 UTC