Wim Wenders to head jury at Venice Film Fest

The decision was made Friday during a board meeting of the Venice Biennale, whose activities include the film festival.

The Biennale said in a statement that the 62-year-old German director is one of the most innovative among contemporary filmmakers and has produced some of the most influential works of the past 40 years.

He won the Golden Lion in 1982 with "The State of Things." He's also known for "Wings of Desire" — for which he took the best-director prize at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival — and 1999's "Buena Vista Social Club."

The festival in the lagoon city runs from Aug. 27 to Sept. 6.