Venice Film Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera responds to criticism over the inclusion of Russian filmmaker Ilya Khrzhanovsky’s film “DAU” in this year’s festival. On Wednesday, Barbera posts on Instagram, acknowledging Russia’s “bloody and cruel” war against Ukraine and addressing complaints that the selection amounts to support for the Kremlin.
Barbera argues that “DAU” is not “pro-Putin propaganda,” describing it as an artistic work rather than political endorsement. The defense comes after weeks of backlash from activists and Ukrainian officials, who question whether featuring Khrzhanovsky—who has been linked to a controversial portrayal of Soviet life and who is a Russian director— risks normalizing Russian state narratives. Multiple reports describe Barbera’s message as an attempt to counter what he characterizes as accusations built on false premises.
While both outlets agree on the core facts of the dispute and Barbera’s stance, their coverage emphasizes slightly different elements: one highlights Barbera’s rebuttal to a “web of accusations” and the other underscores the broader weeks-long pressure from activists and Ukrainian officials.
