Deneuve to head Venice Film Festival jury

updated 3:03 p.m. ET June 14, 2006

VENICE, Italy - Catherine Deneuve will head the international jury that will award the coveted Golden Lion at this year's Venice Film Festival.

The decision was made during a board meeting of the Venice Biennale, which oversees the film competition.

"We are proud that a personality like Catherine Deneuve will preside over the Venice jury," said a joint statement Wednesday by Davide Croff, president of the Venice Biennale, and festival director Marco Muller.

Deneuve's charisma and knowledge of film will help other jurors work with serenity and balance, the statement said.

Deneuve, 62, starred in "Belle de Jour," which won the festival's Golden Lion in 1967. She was nominated for an Oscar for her role in 1992's "Indochine."

The lineup of movies competing for the Golden Lion, as well as those showing out of competition, is expected to be presented next month. This year's festival runs Aug. 30 to Sept. 9.

MORE FROM MORE NEWS AND OTHER FEATURES

‘Bruno’ football photos irk L.A. school chief

‘Bruno’ football photos irk L.A. school chief Academy toughens rules for best song Oscars doubling best-picture nominees to 10 Six Transformers that could use an upgrade ‘Transformers’ roll out with $112M weekend Newsweek: Best picture noms who could have been Fox brings human element to ‘Transformers 2’ Jar Jar again? 2 Transformers raise race issues ‘Transformers’ director rips studio in memo Shia LaBeouf brags about ‘Transformers’   Add More news and other features headlines to your news reader: