The girls are back in town: Male dominance of Venice Film Festival broken by Bening

Four time Oscar nominee Annette Bening, president of the international jury of the 74th Venice Film Festival, arrives at the Venice Lido. The American Beauty actress’s appointment ends an 11-year succession of male jury chiefs.

The world’s oldest cinema festival, which opens today, is kicking off the autumn cinema season with searing drama, serious glamour and a crop of new movies vying for attention, awards and acclaim.

Many movies that have world premiered on the Lido have gone on to score multiple Oscars including Gravity, Birdman, and La La Land.