Despite the presence of Hollywood’s biggest names, international cinema journalists at the Venice Film Festival are struggling to secure interviews, raising concerns about the future of their profession.
The Venice Film Festival, running through September 7, has brought an impressive array of Hollywood stars to the Lido, including Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Michael Keaton, and Jude Law, with Brad Pitt and George Clooney expected to arrive on Sunday. However, the opportunities for international cinema journalists to interview these big names have been scarce, prompting about 100 journalists to sign an open letter of protest.
The journalists claim that the festival is bringing in prestigious names to gain media exposure but then failing to provide access to the actual journalists. The traditional “press junkets,” where directors and their casts provide short, filmed interviews to journalists in advance of their films, have nearly disappeared this year, except for the biggest media outlets. Those left out must rely on press conferences organized by the festival or stars’ appearances on the red carpet.
A French press officer attributed the decline in interview slots to the high costs charged by studios, which distributors can no longer afford. The journalists argue that this trend threatens the existence of cinema journalism, as interviews with big stars help freelance journalists continue working and cover lesser-known films and emerging talent.
The journalists have observed this trend growing at other film festivals, including Cannes and Berlin, but the extent of the stars’ unavailability at this year’s Venice Film Festival is unprecedented. On the festival’s first day, a German freelancer confronted the festival’s director, Alberto Barbera, at a press conference, asking him to intercede. Barbera claimed he was unaware of the issue and noted that the festival does not organize such interviews, calling them “marketing choices that must be respected.”
The organizer of the international journalists group, Italian freelancer Marco Consoli, reported that there had been no official reaction to the open letter. As the festival continues, the concerns of these journalists remain unaddressed, raising questions about the future of cinema journalism and the role of film festivals in facilitating access to the stars that draw media attention.
The Venice Film Festival, one of the most prestigious events in the film industry, has long been a platform for emerging talent and established stars alike. However, the current trend of limited access to interviews threatens to undermine the festival’s reputation as a hub for cinema journalism. As the industry evolves, it remains to be seen how film festivals and studios will adapt to ensure that journalists can continue to provide in-depth coverage and promote lesser-known films and talent.
With AFP
