How Medium sized Festivals Grovel to the Big Boys, by Selecting the Same Films
If you’ve ever wondered why the same films are selected again and again by many different festivals, selections which are often not justified by their artistic merit, and despite the enormous amount of films which are produced each year, this a
Former Head of the Israeli Film Fund Allegedly Awarded Funding to a Project Directed by his Wife’s Business Partner
Thanks to our readers contribution we have came to know that Katriel Schory, who established the Israeli Film Fund and served as its CEO for almost 30 years, allegedly approved production funding for a film related to his wife Naomi Schory as one of
Is Nadav Lapid Receiving Full Production Funding from two Countries, Against the Rules?
Thanks to readers contribution we’ve been made aware that Nadav Lapid is probably receiving full production funding as the resident of two countries, against the rules set out by the Israeli Film Funds and Israeli Ministry of Culture. According
Is the Integrity of the European Film Industry Compromised?
Before we delve into the details of this article, we want to remind our readers of a simple yet crucial fact: every year film festivals receive thousands of submissions. The most prestigious ones can receive as many as 15,000 submissions annually.&nb
Alleged Munich Film Festival bias in award selection process.
Thanks to readers contribution, a seasoned producer with over two decades of international experience has informed us of malpractice and bias in the Munich Film Festival film selection process. The Berlin and Rome-based professional, whose work inclu
2nd Annual $5000 Grant: Supporting Graduation Films in Post-Production with Anonymous Submissions.
Film Industry Watch is thrilled to offer an annual Post Production Grant of $5,000 to support film students worldwide in completing their graduation projects. This grant is tailored to assist with post-production and related costs. For this grant, a
Torino Film Lab – Family Ties and Favoritism during Matthieu Darras’ tenure as the Artistic Director
Through the valued contributions of our readers, Film Industry Watch has learned that during Matthieu Darras’ tenure as the Artistic Director of the Torino Film Lab, his sister, Isabelle Collombat (formerly Isabelle Darras), participated in the
Downward Spiral: How Festival Corruption, Media, Degrades Film Quality and Industry Standards
The influence of film festivals on the film industry’s standards, practices, and the quality of its output is a complex and often obscured phenomenon with critical scrutiny revealing a web of biases and ethical concerns that challenge the integ
CHARTS: Merit, Festivals & “Politics”
The chart below provides a clear visual representation of the prioritized factors in decision-making processes within film festivals and funding organizations, explaining how and why film quality output has been degrading over the years. Dominating t
CASE STUDY: Cannes and Festival Sponsorships
As mentioned in our article addressing the BFI London Film Festival we have highlighted a significant issue: in 2021, 19 films funded by the BFI dominated the lineup, severely limiting opportunities for independent filmmakers. This situation undersco
London Film Festival Conflicts of Interest, BFI as a Monopoly
London, UK – The BFI London Film Festival (LFF), a renowned annual event, is facing critical scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest. This concern stems primarily from its close relationship with the British Film Institute (BFI), which si
Golden Lion at Venice – Chazelle’s prior work with Stone adds a layer to the discussion
At the Venice Film Festival, “Poor Things,” directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone, won the prestigious Golden Lion award. The film, based on Alasdair Gray’s novel, centers on Bella Baxter, a character brought back to
CASE STUDY: The Concentration of Power, Influence & Control in the European Industry
In the past decade and a half, the European film industry has witnessed the emergence of several key organizations, ostensibly designed as tools to support the film industry and filmmakers. However, a closer examination reveals a more complex narrati
Venice, Locarno programmers, Varicoloured distribution company possible conflict of interest
Carla Vulpiani, a programmer specializing in short films at the Venice Film Festival, and Enrico Vannucci, holding a similar role at the Locarno Film Festival, are both involved in running VariColoured, a company that promotes and sells short films.
Wim Vanacker & Vassilis Kekatos – a two way relationship dating back to 2018
Thanks to readers contribution, and in an update to Conflict of Interest Taints 2019 Cannes Palme d’Or Award, it has been revealed that the relationship between Cannes’ Selection Committee Wim Vanacker, the 2019 Palme d’Or winner Vassil
Dual Role as Glasgow Short Film Festival Programmer & at a Short Films Distribution Company
Sanne Jehoul’s concurrent positions as Programme Director at the Glasgow Short Film Festival, Scotland’s premier short film event and a BAFTA Qualifying event, and as a member of the team at Square Eyes, a Vienna-based festival distributi
Anita Lee, Chief Programmer, Executive Producer on Three of Five TIFF selected features in Canadian Category
In 2022, at the Toronto Film Festival, a notable instance raised concerns about nepotism within the festival, particularly in the documentary film category. Out of five films featured, three — ‘The Colour of Ink’, ‘To Kill a Tiger
Sundance Charges $ but Not Watching All Submissions (unless you’re Obama’s daughter)
In yet another case underscoring industry-wide issues of lack of transparency and unfair practices, a recent report suggests that the Sundance Film Festival may not be reviewing all of film submissions, despite charging filmmakers up to $80 per entry
Special Report – favouritism, nepotism in the European film industry
The European film industry is grappling with serious concerns regarding transparency and fairness, particularly in the context of the industry being largely funded by the public, where transparency and fairness are expected. These issues are exemplif
NISI MASA alleged conflicts of interests under the tenure of Wim Vanacker
Favouritism and conflict of interest at NISI MASA, now known as “European Short Pitch”, under the tenure of Wim Vanacker. The information presented below is part of a wider story in which a couple of dozen people effectively “contro
Revolving Doors At The Israeli Film Funds Headed by Noa Regev, Film Council member Osnat Bukofzer Alleged Conflict of Interest and more
חברי תעשיית הקולנוע הישראלית שיש להם מידע נוסף על שחיתות בקרנות, במיוחד בקרן רבינוביץ ועל דלתות מסתובבות בין מועצת הקולנוע לתפקידים בקרן
Conflit d’intérêts entache le prix de la Palme d’Or 2019 du court métrage “La distance entre le ciel et nous” de Vasilis Kekatos
Figures clés liées au film grec primé Une révélation surprenante fait surface : de nouvelles preuves suggèrent qu’un conflit d’intérêts a entaché la sélection officielle du Festival de Cannes 2019 pour les courts métrages et le
Conflict of Interest Taints 2019 Cannes Palme d’Or Award for The Distance Between Us and the Sky by Vasilis Kekatos, Guillaume Dreyfus, Eleni Kossyfidou
Key Figures Connected in Award-Winning Greek Film Evidence suggests a conflict of interest marred the 2019 Cannes Film Festival’s Official Selection for Short Films, and the award itself. The Palme d’Or went to the Greek short film ‘
Σύγκρουση συμφερόντων αμαυρώνει το βραβείο Χρυσού Φοίνικα του Φεστιβάλ Καννών για το 2019 για την ελληνική ταινία μικρού μήκους Η απόσταση ανάμεσα στον ουρανό κι εμάς του Βασίλη Κεκάτου.
Λάβετε υπόψη ότι αυτή είναι μια παλιά έκδοση αυτού του άρθρου. Το πιο ενημερωμένο, είναι αυτό στα αγγλικά Πρόσωπα κλειδιά που συνδέονται
Questions concerning a Producer working for the selection committee at Cannes
Mélissa Malinbaum holds dual roles that potentially generate an alleged conflict of interest within the realm of film production and festival adjudication. She is a member of the Cannes Film Festival short film committee while simultaneously serving
CASE STUDY – Producer & Festival Decision Maker – Dominique Welinski’s Multiple Conflict of Interests Roles in the Industry
A more recent (May 2025) article about this subject was published here. Dominique Welinski maintains a multitude of influential roles within the film industry, generating a potential conflict of interest. She holds the dual position of curator and pr