Venice Film Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera spoke candidly Tuesday about the political pressures surrounding this year’s edition, while making clear that the fest has no intention of shying away from controversy. Speaking to Variety at the press cocktail on the Lido ahead of the 83rd edition, Barbera said it was “almost normal” that Venice was being pressed to take a political position given the number of films in the lineup touching on Gaza, Palestine, Ukraine and other contentious subjects. What we always say is that neither the Biennale nor the festival will make political declarations in order to take sides.” His comments came a day after Venice reinstated its jury press conference amid some backlash and as artists and activists, including Venice4Palestine, have called on the Biennale to take a stronger position on the war in Gaza.
Our role is to safeguard freedom of expression for everyone, for the artists, and to safeguard the confrontation between artists and the public, the critics and people in general,“ said Barbera. It doesn’t make any sense.” Barbera also firmly denied that the absence of Israeli films from this year’s lineup reflected a boycott, saying Venice received only one Israeli submission and chose not to invite it. If there had been a Russian film, an Israeli film of good quality, we would undoubtedly have invited it.” He added that Venice would have been prepared to face the political backlash that might have followed.
Barbera also said the festival almost selected Vincent Gallo’s latest film, “Golden State Killer” starring James Franco, which Barbera revealed nearly made the lineup. We know it is a film that is going to divide the public, but we are ready to face a complicated situation,’” Barbera said. Venice offered the film an out-of-competition berth, but Gallo ultimately declined because he wanted to compete for the Golden Lion.
Asked whether Franco’s presence was a concern, Barbera said it was not, adding that the issue was the provocative nature of the film itself. Barbera, who has selected Roman Polanski’s and Woody Allen’s movies in recent years, said Venice could get away with these bold choices where other festivals would be plagued by a widespread scandal due to “the prestige of the Biennale and the credibility that the Biennale has gained over the years” through its defense of artistic freedom “without ever taking a political side.” Asked whether Allen might return with his next movie, which he’s about to shoot in Madrid, Barbera quipped: “It depend how good his next film will be! Maybe.” He also rejected the idea that Hollywood studios were retreating from Venice, saying several major U.S. titles simply were not ready in time, including films from Aaron Sorkin and David Fincher.
We know the situation of the studios. They are in difficulty,” he said, pointing to mergers and shifting production and distribution strategies. Still, Barbera predicted the studios would return, calling Venice “a very good promotional opportunity.” Venice opens Wednesday with “Ink,“ Danny Boyle’s drama about the birth of Rupert Murdoch’s tabloid empire, starring Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy.
Why does everyone seem to want Venice to take a political position this year? Because we had Berlin, obviously, with all the problems between the government, Palestine, the pro-Palestinian protests and all of that. Poor Wim Wenders was basically trapped by the press conference.
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