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Venice Press Corps Criticizes Talent Access Issues, Threatens Boycott of Films
The freelance press corps at the Venice Film Festival is facing growing discontent.
A number of major productions, including Pablo Larraín’s “Maria” and Luca Guardagnino’s “Queer,” have chosen not to offer interview opportunities outside of the main press conferences, causing frustration among journalists.
An open letter criticizing this restrictive policy has been circulating within the International Film Festivals Journalists Facebook group, hinting at a potential boycott of films and talent that refuse to engage with the press at festivals.
This letter was published as Angelina Jolie arrived in Venice for the world premiere of “Maria,” where she stars as the tragic opera singer Maria Callas.
Journalists were informed in advance that there would be “no interview opportunities in Venice outside of the official festival press conference.”
The letter argued that the decision to limit press access has come at a critical time when film journalism is already at “risk of extinction.”
It warned that this policy threatens the livelihoods of journalists who play a crucial role in promoting films and the careers of directors and actors.
“After having gone on strike for months in Hollywood to save thousands of jobs, now directors and actors, embracing the policy of the same studios and producers who were previously their enemies, are putting just as many jobs at risk, denying interviews to journalists who manage to survive thanks to those interviews,” the letter stated.
The letter also highlighted that securing interviews with big-name stars allows film journalists to provide coverage to emerging filmmakers and actors as part of a mutually beneficial relationship.
“Outlets always favor names, stars, and mainstream projects. If journalists get those stars, then they can also ensure first-time filmmakers, innovators, and all the beautifully talented artists with less commercial appeal get their media exposure too,” the letter read.
According to the festival’s figures, around 3,000 media professionals from print, digital, and broadcast are expected to attend Venice this year.
However, attending the festival is costly, with accommodation rates on the Lido and mainland Venice rising during this period, similar to other A-list film events.
The letter pointed out that the lack of talent availability was particularly disappointing because Venice’s 81st edition was set to be star-studded following the absence of Hollywood talent in 2023 due to SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.
It further mentioned that this issue is not unique to Venice, but it has become especially noticeable at this edition of the festival.
“This ‘red carpet activity only’ message from publicists has been building up for a while, also during other festivals, such as Cannes and Berlinale,” the letter stated.
“However, the scope of their unavailability during this festival is unprecedented. The festival brings names to garner prestige and media exposure but seems to forget about the journalists,” it added.
Thursday’s letter followed questions directed at Venice Film Festival Artistic Director Alberto Barbera during the opening jury press conference regarding the lack of film junkets this year.
Barbera responded that he has no control over the press campaigns of the films selected for the festival, and he did not perceive a significant reduction in film junkets.
Yet, around 3,000 media professionals are expected at Venice this year, despite the high costs associated with attendance.
The letter concluded that festivals would suffer in the long run if journalists do not get interview opportunities with major films.
“Today the protest has just begun, but soon there could be hundreds of journalists and outlets boycotting films and artists that deny access to interviews at festivals,” the letter warned. “Eventually the protest could affect the festivals themselves, risking the departure of hundreds of accredited journalists and publications, leaving commentary on films and opinions of their authors to artificial intelligence.”
The International Film Festivals Journalists group, created during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown by Italian freelance journalist Marco Consoli, has around 700 members, including journalists, film publicists, and festival programmers.
Consoli noted that around 50 journalists had signed the letter so far, with the number expected to grow.
Source: Variety
