On August 28th local time, the 81st Venice Film Festival opened. Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi made an appearance as a judge at the media photo session wearing a white jumpsuit with a black ribbon tied around her waist, creating a simple yet stylish look that drew attention from the crowd.
Zhang Ziyi, who has been in the industry for 30 years, not only has won numerous awards and nominations but also stands as the top-grossing Chinese actress globally with a box office exceeding 10 billion. She is best known for her role in the film “The Grandmaster,” directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai, where she won 12 Best Actress awards, breaking the record for the most awards won by a single film and solidifying her position in the Chinese film industry, earning her the nickname “International Zhang.”
In addition to Zhang Ziyi, the jury for this year’s Venice Film Festival includes American director James Gray, British director Andrew Haigh, Polish director Agnieszka Holland, Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho, Mauritanian director Abderrahmane Sissako, Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore, and German director Julia von Heinz.
The festival will run from August 28th to September 7th on the Lido Island in Venice, Italy. The jury, led by chairperson and French actress Isabelle Huppert, will decide the winners of this year’s Golden Lion Award and other awards in the main competition section.
Zhang Ziyi, serving as a jury member in the main competition section, appeared at the press conference in a white straw hat and a white jumpsuit, exuding a casual yet elegant demeanor. She shared snapshots of her time in Venice on Weibo, revealing her arrival at the film festival. In the photos, she is seen barefoot on a carpet, leaning against a wall, displaying a carefree attitude.
After posting the pictures, her studio added, “The 81st Venice International Film Festival is about to begin. Over the next 11 days, Jury Member Zhang Ziyi will experience the charm of cinema along with other jury members.”
At the age of 45, Zhang Ziyi announced the end of her eight-year marriage to singer Wang Feng last October with rumors circulating that they are co-parenting their children separately. Recently, she was spotted taking her children on an outing, capturing precious moments in sweltering temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius, dressed modestly and sparking discussions.
Despite achieving international acclaim in the film industry, Zhang Ziyi’s work has slowed down since focusing on her family and children, even transitioning into a “full-time mom” role, taking care of every aspect of her young children’s lives. After her divorce, she seems to have shifted her focus back to her career, actively participating in film and television events, seemingly unaffected emotionally by the divorce.