Maggie Gyllenhaal, who serves as jury president for the Golden Lion competition at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, criticizes the lineup’s lack of women directors. Speaking at a press meeting with fellow Golden Lion jurors as the festival prepares to open Wednesday, she describes the situation as a “systemic problem” and says she is addressing questions raised about the competition’s gender balance.
Both outlets report that festival director Alberto Barbera responds to the criticism by saying there is “no prejudice.” IndieWire adds that Gyllenhaal acknowledges she has been asked about the absence of female directors and frames it as part of a broader pattern rather than an isolated instance. The dispute centers on whether the selection results from bias or from other factors, with Gyllenhaal emphasizing systemic barriers while the festival leadership disputes the presence of prejudice.
