Director Del Toro to head Venice Film Festival jury

DIRECTOR Guillermo del Toro, whose latest film TheShapeof Water is tipped to win big at the Oscars, will chair the Venice Film Festival jury, organisers announced Monday. “Venice is a window to world cinema and the opportunity to celebrate its power and cultural relevance,” the Mexican director said. The ShapeofWater, a Cold War-set story of love between a mute cleaning woman and a mystery merman-like creature, has once again propelled the filmmaker into the Hollywood limelight.

The fantasy romance won the 53-year-old the best director award at the Golden Globes and has earned 13 Oscar nominations. It also scooped the top prize, the prestigious Golden Lion, at last year’s Venice festival.