Working Conditions for Film Journalists – A Venice Press Release

A large group of journalists and film critics attending Venice Film Festival, frustrated by the working conditions and lack of access to talents, wrote a press release. This release was widely shared in various outlets. We print it here in its original version.

Cinema Journalism is at risk of Extinction

Cinema journalism is at risk of extinction. Venice Film Festival has just started and we know already that many films with a world premiere at the festival this year will not give any interviews to the press. Zero, zilch, nada. This decision, influenced by the studios and supported by many publicists, puts in jeopardy an entire category of journalists, particularly freelancers, who with their passionate and relentless work often help in the success of films, give voice and prestige to directors and actors, and contribute to igniting the debate on projects that aim for the Oscars, the Golden Globes and other prestigious awards. After having gone on strike for months in Hollywood to save thousands of jobs, now directors and actors, embracing the policy of the same studios and producers who were previously their enemies, are putting just as many jobs at risk, denying interviews to journalists who manage to survive thanks to those interviews.

These days, due to rapid and profound changes to the media landscape, more and more journalists are becoming freelancers, which means they sustain themselves single-handedly. That means they do what is called “pitching” to sell stories which allow them to survive. Every day, they put their best foot forward to write about what’s meaningful, innovative and of great artistic value. But the outlets always favor names, stars and mainstream projects. If journalists get those stars, then they can also make sure the first time filmmakers, the innovators, along with all the beautifully talented artists with less commercial appeal can get their media exposure too, through their effort. Just like organizers need big stars for the eyes of the world to turn to the event, the international press need interviews with them for their work to be viable.

After last year’s red carpets which were devoid of Hollywood stars and most filmmakers which were involved in the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, this edition promises to be star-packed. The problem is that nearly all of the headliners of the 81st Mostra del Cinema will not be available for press activities other than to walk the red carpet and talk at the official press conference. This “red carpet activity only” message from publicists has been building up for a while, also during other festivals, such as Cannes and Berlinale. However the scope of their unavailability during this upcoming festival is unprecedented. The festival is bringing names to achieve prestige and media exposure but then seem to develop amnesia when it comes to the actual journalists.

We find this shocking and deeply concerning. We ask to change this policy that has long contaminated all the major festivals and to return to offering interview junkets to the press at film festivals. Today the protest has just begun, but soon there could be hundreds of journalists and outlets boycotting films and artists denying access to interviews at festivals. Eventually the protest could involve the festivals themselves, which risks seeing the departure of hundreds of accredited journalists and publications and where the commentary on films and the opinion of their authors will be left to artificial intelligence.

ARTICLES

Variety : https://variety.com/2024/film/global/venice-film-festival-journalists-open-letter-access-boycott-1236123851/

Euronews : https://www.euronews.com/culture/2024/08/29/venice-film-festival-2024-is-cinema-journalism-at-risk-of-extinction

THR : https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/venice-film-festival-stars-snub-international-press-protest-1235986645/

CINEUROPA : https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/466234/

Screen : https://www.screendaily.com/news/film-journalists-criticise-lack-of-press-access-to-venice-stars-cinema-journalism-is-at-risk-of-extinction/5196624.article

Deadline : https://deadline.com/2024/08/venice-freelance-press-corps-decries-lack-of-talent-access-warns-of-boycott-junkets-1236072544/

Syndicat Français : https://www.syndicatdelacritique.com/actualite/le-cinema-sans-journalistes?

FIPRESCI – The International Federation of Film Critics