All the controversies of the Venice Film Festival

This 80th edition of the Venice Film Festival is perhaps the first in which, in the face of a lavish schedule, the red carpet is among the most unadorned ever. In the absence of Hollywood A-Listers, this year's red carpet seems to have been conquered by the same crowd of influencers, social media stars, reality stars and socialites that throngs Milan's fashion events - while film personalities were not seen in many. And if this already fueled the first controversies, others were added as they went along. 

So here are the main controversies raised by the Venice Film Festival.

Pierfrancesco Favino against Ferrari and Adam Driver

In the first days of the festival, Italian actor Pierfrancesco Favino ignited a controversy in defense of Italian cinema, criticizing how in the American film Ferrari, Adam Driver plays Enzo Ferrari, an Italian, the second time Driver has played a protagonist of Italian public life after Maurizio Gucci in House of Gucci. Favino stressed the issue of cultural appropriation, arguing that this casting choice denies Italian actors the opportunity to portray their own stories. He lamented the fact that foreign actors are preferred for Italian roles, stressing the need to protect and promote Italian cinema. In response, Ferrari's producer Andrea Iervolino argued that to revive Italian cinema, it is important to make international films with foreign and Italian actors in order to enhance Italian stories and Italian actors, stressing the need for a global approach to compete in the international film scene. The controversy reflects a debate on the balance between cultural identity and international success in Italian cinema.

It's all about influencers

Italian rapper Gue Pequeño sharply criticized the 80th Venice Film Festival and those who attend, accusing them of having a low cultural level. He called the event's red carpet «full of a***oles» referring to the presence of figures mainly associated with reality shows and television programs. However, the Venice red carpet is no longer reserved only for internationally renowned actors and directors, but has become a commercial showcase for companies and brands, including influencers, tiktokers, and digital entertainment figures. The presence of these personalities is largely determined by their popularity on social media and the ability to promote brands and sponsors. Despite the controversy, the Venice Film Festival is also accessible to a wider audience through variable ticket prices, discounts for students and seniors, and is not exclusively reserved for the wealthy.

The absence of Hollywood stars

Hollywood actors and screenwriters are currently on strike, organized by SAG-AFTRA, a union representing 160,000 individuals in the entertainment industry. This strike follows long and unsuccessful negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the major studios represented by the AMPTP body. The strike is motivated by two key concerns: the first is better payments and working conditions for actors and other SAG-AFTRA members whose compensation, especially residuals (payments for reuse of their work), has been significantly affected by the growth of streaming platforms, where they receive lower rates than traditional media; and the second is the use of AI in the industry and the protection of their image rights to ensure fair compensation when their work is used to train artificial intelligence systems. 

The response of the studios, represented by AMPTP, was by many accounts insufficient, leading to an almost complete halt in Hollywood film production and promotion operations. Some production and distribution houses, such as A24 and Neon, however, said yes to the unions' demands and have now actually resumed work. This strike parallels the strike that was already underway by the Writers Guild of America (WGA), whose screenwriters are making similar demands on pay issues, working conditions, and protections regarding AI use. The implications of the strike for films and TV programs are substantial, causing delays and disruptions in production. Actors are also prohibited from taking part in promotional activities such as interviews and red carpet appearances-including at the Venice Film Festival. If Driver and Patrick Dempsey were there, it is only because Ferrari was not produced by an AMPTP-related studio, something Adam Driver himself has remarked, as he also did for his own film Wes Anderson.

The cancelled directors: Roman Polanski, Woody Allen and Luc Besson

Even on the directors' side, controversy is not waning. Roman Polanski, Woody Allen and Luc Besson, all known for personal scandals, will present their films, and they have already generated some backlash online. The Festival's president, Alberto Barbera, defended the choice to include Polanski, stressing the separation between personal responsibility and artistic talent. Polanski is presenting The Palace, a black comedy, while Allen is debuting Coup de Chance, his first film in French. Besson could mark a significant comeback with DogMan, a drama that is a hit in presales. The films do not yet have U.S. distribution, and producers hope reactions in Venice will not discourage potential buyers.

Gabriel Guevara arrested for sexual assault

Spanish actor Gabriel Guevara, known for his role in Amazon Prime's romantic drama My Fault, was arrested at the Venice Film Festival on charges of alleged sexual assault. Guevara, 22, was not at the festival for any official event but had advertised his presence on social media. He was supposed to receive an award unrelated to the festival. Guevara had an international warrant for a sexual assault charge in France, which led to his arrest on the Lido. The Venice Court of Appeals will have to decide on his extradition, and the exact charges are still unknown. The festival made it clear that his presence had nothing to do with their event, stressing that he was not there for any festival-related production or event. Guevara's career includes roles in various TV series, including Skam, Bosé, and My Fault.