Venice Film Festival jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal calls for empathy during the jury’s opening press conference for the 83rd edition. Asked whether cinema should be political, she says films are inherently tied to politics, while also arguing that audiences and filmmakers should be open to a wide range of voices, stories, and perspectives.
Both outlets report she frames her comments in the context of heightened global tensions, including the wars in Gaza and Ukraine and unrest in the United States. She emphasizes that, rather than separating art from politics, the film world should make room for different kinds of creators.
Gyllenhaal also addresses the festival competition’s representation of women directors, questioning the apparent lack of female directors. She describes it as a systemic issue rather than an isolated problem, and urges openness to the full range of filmmakers. The outlets present her remarks as a call for broader inclusivity while acknowledging the political atmosphere surrounding the festival’s start.
