Frenchactress Catherine Deneuve will head the maincompetition jury at the 63rd Venice International Film Festival (Aug 30-Sep 9).

Deneuve first caught the attention of the internationalpublic in Luis Bunuel's Belle De Jour, which premiered in Venice in 1967 and won theGolden Lion. In 1998, Deneuve won Venice's CoppaVolpi best actress prize for her role in NicoleGarcia's Place Vendome.

'We'reproud for a personality like Catherine Deneuve topreside over Venice's jury,' Biennalepresident Davide Croff and Venice artistic director MarcoMueller said in a joint statement. 'Her magical charisma and her knowledgeof cinema as a protagonist will give serenity and balance to the work of thejury.'

Meanwhile,the festival announced that it will hold the world premiere of Kenneth Branagh's opera adaptation The Magic Flute.

Thescreening will take place on September 7 in Venice's La Feniceopera house.

Eventsthat will be held this year in the city of Venice also include a series ofscreenings celebrating the centennial of the birth of legendary Italiandirectors Roberto Rossellini, Mario Soldati and Luchino Visconti.

Screeningswill include Rossellini's Rome Open Cityand General della Rovere, which wonthe Golden Lion in 1959, as well as Visconti's Ossessione, andMario Soldati's 1953 film La Provinciale (also known as The Wayward Wife).