Film Festivals Aren’t Doing Enough to Invite Diverse Jurors. Are They Failing the Industry?

variety.com:

Sophie Monks Kaufman Guest ContributorAs the first major film festival to take place in the pandemic era, there’s a gravity to the 77th Venice Biennale simply by virtue of the show going on under such fraught global conditions.Yet 2020 has also sparked an unprecedented awareness of racial discourse, and as such, it’s essential to note that there hasn’t been a Black member of the competition jury since 2004, when Spike Lee was part of a jury led by British director John Boorman.

People of color have fared mildly better across the same 16-year period, with a recurring theme of one East Asian creative per 7-9 person jury.This year, the jury that will decide a winner from the Official Selection is entirely white.President Cate Blanchett leads.