Jim Jarmusch’s Disappointment with Mubi
Filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, known for classics like Stranger Than Paradise and Broken Flowers, has voiced his disappointment with Mubi, particularly due to its connections with the Israeli military.
As reported by Variety, there is intensifying backlash against Mubi, especially after a $100 million investment was announced from Sequoia Capital, a venture capital firm linked to a defense tech startup associated with Israeli intelligence following the terrorist attacks on October 7th.
Since the story broke, multiple artists affiliated with Mubi have signed an open letter condemning what they describe as “Genocide Profiteering.” Jarmusch, whose recent film Brothers of Father’s Mother’s Brother is being distributed by Mubi, expressed his concerns just before the film’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
“My experience with Mubi has been positive in terms of collaboration on the film. However, I think, well, if you want to discuss the financial side, that’s really a conversation for Mubi,” he remarked during the press conference.
He added, “Yes, I’ve had some worries. We entered into a distribution agreement with Mubi before their deal with Sequoia.”
Jarmusch mentioned that he has accepted funding from various sources to bring his film to life, stating, “Every company’s money is dirty.” He believes it’s unfair for artists to be held accountable for the business choices made by their financial backers.
“As an independent filmmaker, I rely on diverse funding sources for my projects. I mean, really, if I start looking into the funding structures of these companies, I could uncover all sorts of questionable things,” he noted.
