Key facts
- The European Commission terminated a multiyear grant of €2 million to the Venice Biennale Foundation.
- The decision followed criticism over Russia's participation in the Venice Biennale's art exhibition.
- Filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa stated that the funding cut is a "punishment in kindergarten" and distracts from the EU's energy imports from Russia.
- The terminated grant was intended to co-finance activities of the cinema department, including the Venice Production Bridge.
- The Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs raised concerns about Russian-themed film projects, citing Russia's use of culture as a tool of state policy.
- The Venice film festival's artistic director defended certain Russian-themed projects, stating they denounce totalitarian regimes.
The European Commission has terminated a €2 million multiyear grant to the Venice Biennale Foundation following controversy over Russia's participation in its art exhibition. Ukrainian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa criticized the decision, likening it to a "kindergarten punishment" and arguing that it distracts from the EU's continued import of Russian gas.
Loznitsa, whose new documentary "Imperium" is being shown at the Venice film festival, stated that the existence of the Russian pavilion does not stop the war and pointed to the significant increase in European imports of Russian liquified fossil gas. He argued that the money from these imports directly funds bombs falling on Ukraine, making it a more serious issue than the pavilion's presence.
The Russian pavilion's exhibition, "The Tree is Rooted in the Sky," was accessible only during the pre-opening vernissage and has been closed to the public since May 9. The Biennale's management stated that the terminated grant, which co-financed activities of the cinema department like Biennale College and the Venice Production Bridge, affects departments unrelated to Russia's participation in the art biennial.
Biennale President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco criticized the commission's decision, accusing them of "abandoning our journey" and asserting that the Biennale is focused on "international research in the field of arts" rather than politics. This year's film festival program notably includes several films with political themes related to Russia and its sphere of influence.
Among these are Loznitsa's "Imperium," Alexandre Smia's "Jupiter," Andrei Kutsila's "Letters from the Silenced Country," and Julia Loktev's "My Undesirable Friends: Part II – Exile." The Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs also expressed "profound concern" over Ilya Khrzhanovsky's "Dau" project, citing Russia's use of culture as a tool of state policy and hybrid warfare, and noting its funding from a sanctioned Russian businessman. However, the Venice film festival's artistic director, Alberto Barbera, defended "Dau," stating it is not pro-Putin propaganda but a film that denounces totalitarian regimes.