Chinese writer and director Zhang Yimou poses at the screening of his new film "Curse of the Golden Flower" during the Closing Night at the AFI Fest 2006 in Hollywood, California in this file photo taken on November 12, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    ROME, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese director Zhang Yimou has been chosen to head an all-director jury at this year's Venice Film Festival, organizers said on Tuesday.

    The festival, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, will run from Aug. 29 to Sept. 8.

    Organizers did not name the other jurors, saying only that, as in 1982, when the festival celebrated its 50th anniversary with a jury headed by Italy's Oscar-winning filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci, all other members of the Jubilee festivities would be directors, "without exception."

    Zhang was tagged as chairman because he has won more major awards than any other director at the world's oldest film festival, festival chief Marco Mueller said.

    Zhang has won two Golden Lions - Venice's top honor - for his 1992 film The Story of Qiu Ju and the 1999 film Not One Less.

    He received the Silver Lion in 1991 for Raise the Red Lantern. Leading lady Gong Li won the best actress award for The Story of Qiu Ju.

    Zhang, who was in China working on preparations for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, told Mueller in an acceptance letter he was "very grateful" for the invitation.

    "I've been honored with major awards by this festival and it has certainly given me the greatest emotions," Zhang said.