Taiwan and France to Be Feted at Bumper Venice Gap Financing Market

Spanish director Isabel Coixet will preside over the international jury of the Venice Film Festival’s Orizzonti competition at the upcoming edition running from August 31 to September 10.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentSpanish director Isabel Coixet, known for prizewinning works such as “The Secret Life of Words” and “The Bookshop,” will preside over the jury of the Venice Film Festival’s Horizons (Orizonti) section dedicated to more cutting-edge works.Coixet will be joined on the Horizons jury by Italian director Laura Bispuri (“Sworn Virgin,” “Daughter of Mine”); U.S. director and producer Antonio Campos, who most recently created, wrote and directed HBO Max series “The Staircase,” starring Colin Firth, Toni Collette and Juliette Binoche; Algerian director Sofia Djama, whose first feature “The Blessed” won the 2017 Horizons best actress award for Lyna Khoudri; and former Cannes Director’s Fortnight chief Edouard Waintrop.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentSahar Baghery has been appointed head of content for Amazon’s Prime Video in France, succeeding Isabelle Bertrand.The Paris-born executive joined Prime Video in 2018 as head of business development for France and the MENA region. She was then made head of worldwide business development.

US filmmaker Tim Burton will be feted with France’s prestigious Lumière Award at the 14th edition of the classic film-focused Lumière Festival in Lyon, running October 15-23.

Julianne Moore will head up the International Jury of Competition this year at the 79th Venice International Film Festival. Moore was put up for consideration by the festival’s director, Alberto Barbera, and will be joined by six other names in film.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentJulianne Moore will preside over the main jury of the Venice Film Festival’s upcoming 79th edition.The Oscar-winning U.S. actor, who most recently starred in A24’s “When You Finish Saving the World,” directed by Jesse Eisenberg, and will next appear in Benjamin Caron-directed “Sharper,” alongside Sebastian Stan and John Lithgow, also from A24, is a longtime Venice regular.Moore was last on the Lido with George Clooney-directed “Suburbicon” in 2017.

American actress Julianne Moore has been announced as the president of the international jury of the competition at the 79th Venice International Film Festival, running from August 31 to September 10.

Zack Sharf Johnny Depp’s return to acting following his defamation trial against Amber Heard is not being backed by Netflix. Bloomberg reported that the Depp-starring French movie “La Favorite” is receiving “financial backing” from Netflix, but a source close to the streaming giant told Variety this reporting is not true. Netflix is not financing the movie but has licensed the film to stream in France only after it completes the country’s 15-month theatrical window.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentWhile promoting the French release of his 2020 film “Rifkin’s Festival,” Woody Allen said he was planning to shoot his next movie in Paris. The New York-based director told the French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche that he was aiming to relocate to Paris in September to lens his next project which he said will be a French-language movie with a local cast. Allen said he was able to find the financing in the U.S.

David Beckham put on a smitten display as they boarded a water taxi after arriving in Venice on the Orient Express on Tuesday amid their extravagant 23rd wedding anniversary celebrations. The designer, 48, and the former footballer, 47, looked as loved-up as ever as they walked through the Italian city hand-in-hand after arriving on the lavish train. The married couple had travelled to Venice with their family - including Victoria's parents Anthony and Jackie Adams and her rarely-seen brother Christian - to continue their celebrations after marking their wedding anniversary with a romantic date night in Paris.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorOscar-winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran is behind the “Barbie” costumes that are going viral on the internet. Variety has confirmed Gerwig has teamed up with her “Little Women” costume designer to bring Barbie and her neon world to life.Photos of Margot Robbie, who is playing Barbie, and Ryan Gosling, playing Ken, have been circulating on social media for several weeks. In one viral photo, the duo are seen rocking hot pink neon spandex outfits while rollerblading along Venice Beach. The Oscar nominees were accessorized with bright yellow rollerblades along with matching kneepads.“Barbie” remains high on the list of most anticipated projects for 2023.

K.J. Yossman Warner Bros.

Manori Ravindran International EditorInternational TV market Mipcom is set to return to the Croisette in October, and major exhibitors have already signed up.Organizers RX France, formerly known as Reed Midem, revealed Monday that a tranche of 200-plus exhibitors are on board for Mipcom. The list includes super-indies such as Banijay, Fremantle and ITV Studios, as well as big international players such as Beta Film, Cineflix Rights, CJ ENM, Endeavor Content, Global Agency, Keshet International, Studiocanal and Warner Bros.