Andrey Zvyagintsev named jury president at Shanghai Film Festival

Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev has been named the jury president of next month’s Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF). The director, whose latest film Leviathan won awards at Cannes, the Golden Globes and the Oscars last year, was selected as jury president “on account of the acclaim Leviathan has received”, the SIFF website reads.

Zvyagintsev will be joined by British director Malcolm Clarke, who will head the jury for the documentary jury panel, and Indian animated film director Ishu Patel, who will serve as jury president for the animation panel.

Despite Leviathan’s international acclaim, Zvyagintsev became the centre of media attention at home following the film’s release, after a number of high ranking Russian officials, including the Minister of Culture, slammed the film as “anti-Russian”.

The 18th SIFF will run from 13-21 June.