At the recent Venice Film Festival, esteemed independent filmmaker Jim Jarmusch unveiled his latest work, Father Mother Sister Brother. During the event, discussions arose regarding Mubi, the streaming service that co-produced the film, and its recent financial developments.
Mubi, known for its curated selection of films, recently secured a $100 million investment led by Sequoia Capital. This partnership has sparked debate within the film community, given Sequoia’s involvement in various sectors, including defense technology.
Addressing the matter, Jarmusch stated, I was disappointed and disconcerted by this relationship. He emphasized that his collaboration with Mubi began well before this funding round and praised their support during the film’s production.
The controversy intensified when a group of filmmakers, some associated with Mubi, penned an open letter criticizing the platform’s acceptance of funds from Sequoia. They highlighted Sequoia’s investment in Israeli defense tech company Kela, suggesting that Mubi’s financial growth is now linked to military activities in Gaza. In response, Mubi’s founder and CEO refuted these claims, asserting that any connection between their operations and the conflict is unfounded.
Jarmusch, while distancing himself from representing Mubi’s decisions, reflected on the broader challenges of film financing. He remarked, All corporate money is dirty, acknowledging the complexities filmmakers face when securing funding from various sources.
