Archive · 7 Sep 2026
Venice Chief Defends Festival Choices on AI, Gaza and Studios
Alberto Barbera runs the artistic program at the Venice Film Festival.
He says artificial intelligence will become much more common in movies.
He also says people need to decide how to control it and use it to help creativity.
A documentary about Gaza was shown late because he did not want politics to overshadow every other film.
The festival cannot display a Palestinian flag because of Italian government rules.
Barbera says Venice had fewer films directed by women this year, but he does not want a separate section that could isolate them.
He thinks several films and performances at the festival could compete for Oscars.
He also believes American studios will return when more of their movies are ready.
Alberto Barbera says artificial intelligence will increasingly shape filmmaking and must be controlled while being used creatively.
Barbera says the Gaza documentary NAZA was scheduled late to prevent politics from dominating the festival, while DAU’s placement reflected its length.
He says Palestinian flags cannot be displayed under current Italian government protocol because Italy does not recognize Palestine as a state.
Barbera identifies Martin McDonagh’s film, Robert Pattinson’s performance in Primetime, and films by Lee Chang-dong and Kore-eda as possible Oscar contenders.
Barbera attributes the limited number of U.S. studio films mainly to production delays and predicts studios will return to Venice.
- Who
- Alberto Barbera, the Venice festival’s longtime artistic director, discussed the event and its programming.
- What
- Barbera addressed artificial intelligence, politically sensitive films, representation of women directors, Oscar prospects, and the participation of U.S. studios.
- When
- At the halfway point of the Venice festival; Barbera said he has two years remaining on his contract after this year.
- Where
- The Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy.
- Why
- The interview examined major issues and films at the festival, including programming decisions and the future of film festivals.
Barbera’s Position
Questions and Concerns
Scheduling politically sensitive films
Barbera’s Position
Barbera said NAZA was placed late to keep political debate from overshadowing the rest of the festival; he attributed DAU’s late placement to its length and scheduling difficulty.
Questions and Concerns
Deadline questioned whether placing Gaza-related films late disadvantages them because much of the international media may have already left.
Artificial intelligence in filmmaking
Barbera’s Position
Barbera said AI is here to stay, may help creativity, and should be controlled and used constructively.
Questions and Concerns
The interview highlighted fear about AI’s consequences and concern that filmmakers and studios may be using it without disclosure.
Women directors in Competition
Barbera’s Position
Barbera said a separate section for women filmmakers would create a ghetto and noted that half of the selection committee is women.
Questions and Concerns
Deadline pointed to the low number of women-directed Competition films and described the result as a possible backward step amid broader structural problems.
- Festival director
- Alberto Barbera is the longtime artistic director of the Venice festival.
- Artificial intelligence
- Barbera expects AI-made films to become more common and says filmmakers and studios are already using AI without always disclosing it.
- Gaza documentary
- Barbera said NAZA was scheduled late so politics would not become the festival’s only major topic.
- Palestinian flag
- Festival authorities said the flag could not be displayed under state protocol because the Italian government does not recognize Palestine as a state.
- Women directors
- Only two Competition films were directed by women this year, including one co-directed film.
- Oscar prospects
- Barbera cited films by Martin McDonagh and Lee Chang-dong, Robert Pattinson’s Primetime performance, and a Kore-eda film as possible contenders.
- U.S. studios
- Barbera said studio films were largely absent because they were not ready and predicted studios would return.