Deneuve to head Venice film jury

Deneuve starred in Belle du Jour, which won at Venice in 1967

French actress Catherine Deneuve has been chosen to head the jury at this year's Venice Film Festival.

Deneuve, 62, will award the coveted Golden Lion at the event, which runs from 30 August to 9 September.

The actress is known for her role in Belle du Jour, which won the Golden Lion in 1967. She was nominated for an Oscar for Indochine in 1992.

The films in this year's Venice competition are expected to be announced in July.

'Magical charisma'

"We are proud that a personality like Catherine Deneuve will preside over the Venice jury," said Venice Biennale president Davide Croff and festival director Marco Muller in a joint statement.

"Her magical charisma and knowledge as protagonist of great cinema will bring calm and balance to the work and opinions of the jury members," they said.

Deneuve hit the headlines in Venice in 2002 when she attacked Hollywood's preoccupation with special effects during a speech at the festival.

She said "the soul has been taken out" of film-making - and good acting was losing out.

"The love of technology is bigger than characterisation these days," she told reporters.