The first episode in the newly expanded Screen Podcast explores the ongoing controversy surrounding Mubi’s $100m investment from Israel-linked venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, before delving into the talking points of this year’s Venice Film Festival, including the smaller films to look out for going forward.

Watch above on video, or listen to below.

 

“What the industry thinks is less important than what the Mubi audience think,” suggests Screen International’s editor-in-chief Matt Mueller on the podcast of Mubi’s links to Sequoia, which also backs an Israeli defence technology firm. “We know that one festival has turned down Mubi money now and there’s a concern to be associated with what Mubi is going through.”

Screen’s deputy editor Louise Tutt adds: “Mubi has built a real community around itself [that] really sees Mubi as a brand that stands for something, and it doesn’t stand for being part of a horrendous situation in Gaza. That community is angry, it can’t do anything about Gaza, but what it can do is show how it feels by unsubscribing from a brand that has been tainted by this in a direct or indirect way.”

Adds Matt: “It will hard for Mubi to continue to navigate this. [Mubi CEO] Efe Cakarel needs to go on the record and do a big interview. We have asked.”

Host and Screen contributing editor Wendy Mitchell is also joined by senior international reporter Ben Dalton to discuss the standout moments from the Venice Film Festival, what deals - if any - will emerge for unrepresented titles, and how the war in Gaza took the spotlight this year.

Finally, Screen’s senior international critic Wendy Ide jumps in with her thoughts on Venice’s Golden Lion Winner before revealing her competition highlights and hidden gems.

The Screen Podcast is produced and hosted by Wendy Mitchell and edited by Ellie Calnan. New episodes every other Thursday.

To download or subscribe to future episodes, search for ’The Screen Podcast’, which is available on:

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