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 addressed the 83rd edition's opening press conference amid global unrest in Gaza, Ukraine, and the United States. Gyllenhaal asserted that films are fundamentally and unavoidably political, urging filmmakers and spectators to remain open to diverse stories and empathy. Additionally, she highlighted a systemic problem regarding the lack of female directors in the competition, calling for a critical examination of the industry's structural barriers to gender equality in cinema.