Venice, Italy - Taiwanese-born Academy Award winning director, Ang Lee, will head the jury at this year's edition of the Venice Film Festival, organizers announced Friday.

The world's oldest film competition, the festival this year marks its 66th edition and runs in the lagoon city from September 2 to September 12.

"Ang Lee is one of the most successful directors in creating a dialogue between the film-making culture of the East and West, and is one of the most highly-awarded directors of recent years," organizers said in a statement.

Lee has twice won the Venice Film Festival's top Golden Lion prize, in 2005 with Brokeback Mountain, and in 2007 with Lust, Caution.

Lee also won an Oscar as Best Director in 2006 for Brokeback Mountain which told the story of a same-sex relationship between two cowboys. (dpa)