Aronofsky to helm Venice jury

After recent successes at the Venice International Film Festival, filmmaker Darren Aronofsky is returning to the annual Italian event to chair its jury.

Aronofsky will preside over the international competition jury, which awards the coveted Golden Lion and other prizes.

Organizers hailed the American director, screenwriter and producer as "a key figure in contemporary film, whose work constantly engages the evolution and mutations of the many languages of art."

The high-profile run for Aronofsky's most recent film — the psycho-thriller Black Swan — began in Venice in 2010.

The ballet-world tale served as the festival's opening film and, after its premiere, catapulted star Natalie Portman onto an award-winning path that eventually led to a best actress Oscar.

In 2008, Aronofsky was the toast of Venice for his comeback tale The Wrestler, which won the festival's Golden Lion. It went on to earn a host of critical honours and accolades for star Mickey Rourke.

Aronofsky's 2006 film The Fountain, a sci-fi romance starring Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz, also screened in Venice.

The 68th Venice International Film Festival runs Aug. 31 to Sept. 10. The official line-up of films will be announced in late July.