Marco Mueller has been confirmed as the artistic director for the Venice Film Festival for four more years.

The new board of directors of the Fondazione La Biennale di Venezia (the Venice Biennale arts festival foundation), chaired now by Paolo Baratta, confirmed the appointment at the board's first meeting today.

Marco Mueller joined Venice in 2004 after heading the Locarno Film Festival. His new term was widely anticipated after Italy's culture minister Francesco Rutelli said in November that Mueller's work as 'excellent' and that he intended to extend Mueller's mandate.

Also, Andrea Del Mercato has been nominated as Director General of the Fondazione la Biennale di Venezia. He is a veteran of local public administration roles.

The Foundation said that Mueller during his first term 'led to a Festival that is increasingly present on the international stage, responsive to emerging film industries and to new talents and at the same time can exploit a solid and constant relationship with the best film production of the world, confirming the festival as a major stage on which to launch leading international productions.'

Other artistic directors were named for architecture, dance and theatre.

The 2008 Venice International Film Festival, celebrating its 65th edition, will run Aug 27-6 September.

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