Holly Hunter, one of the bravest and most nuanced actresses in American film, will be President of the Jury this year. The jury will choose the winner of the world’s literary heaviest film award, the 7.3 kilo Bronze Horse, from the directors in Stockholm XXI Competition. Holly Hunter will also participate in a Face2Face with the festival audience.
“I am honored to be serving as this year’s jury president at the Stockholm International Film Festival. I’m especially excited that this year’s festival is celebrating the extraordinary achievements of filmmaker Gus Van Sant. I look forward to meeting my fellow jury members and having the privilege of seeing and discussing a selection of world-class movies with them. I’ve never been to Stockholm and now I’ll get the opportunity to be enchanted by a city and a country that have contributed so much to world cinema,” says Holly Hunter.

Holly Hunter landed her first starring role in Raising Arizona by the Coen brothers in 1987 and made her broad breakthrough the same year with the romantic comedy Broadcast News. In 1994 she earned an Academy Award for her role in The Piano and was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress for The Firm by Sydney Pollack.

Holly Hunter has played unforgettable roles in some of the most admired films at the Stockholm International Film Festival throughout the years. In 1996 she gave a striking performance in David Cronenberg’s provocative Crash. In 2003, Thirteen by Catherine Hardwick was in the official competition, and she not only won the hearts of our audience with her performance but was also nominated for an Academy Award. In 2005 she played a magnificent role in the stellar ensemble drama Nine Lives by Rodrigo García. Hunter was recently seen in TNT’s edgy drama Saving Grace

“Holly Hunter is a unique actress with the ability to make her often eccentric characters naturally spring to life. She is also a fervent supporter of independent film, and it’s a great honor for us that she will lead the jury this year,” says festival director Git Scheynius.

The Stockholm XXI Competition will contain up to 20 films by directors making their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd feature. Holly Hunter along with four yet unannounced members of the jury will select winners in seven different categories. Among prior recipients of the Bronze Horse are Quentin Tarantino, Lars von Trier, Courtney Hunt and Yorgos Lanthimos.
and earned nominations for an Emmy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
The 21st Stockholm International Film Festival will take place November 17-28, 2010.