Political controversy has already disrupted this year’s major European film festivals, with disputes over Israel and Palestine, Russia, right-wing media influence and artificial intelligence prompting withdrawals, petitions and public criticism. Venice is expected to face similar pressure as it presents a deliberately political programme amid ongoing wars and wider concerns about censorship, democracy and shrinking freedoms.

Berlin faced backlash after jury president Wim Wenders suggested directors should avoid politics, while Cannes saw thousands protest Vincent Bolloré’s influence and debate Demi Moore’s comments on AI. Venice’s parent organisation has lost $2.3 million in European Commission funding over Russia’s Biennale presence, although president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco argues the institution must remain censorship-free; its programme includes films on Rupert Murdoch, Elon Musk, Palestine, immigration, climate change and authoritarianism.