Movie creators voice worries about Mubi's financial association with the Israeli armed forces due to ethical issues
Film Industry Protests MUBI's Ties with Sequoia Capital Over Alleged Genocide Profiteering
A growing number of filmmakers and cinema workers, including the Turkish Cinema and Broadcasting Workers Union, have called on MUBI to cut ties with Sequoia Capital over allegations of profiting from what they call "genocide" in Gaza. This call to action is part of broader solidarity actions, such as the Valdivia film festival in Chile deciding not to screen MUBI films to protest Sequoia Capital's connections to Israeli defense technology.
The controversy began when an open letter, published on Variety on July 30 by 25 filmmakers, including Joshua Oppenheimer and Cherien Dabis, demanded that MUBI reconsider its relationship with Sequoia Capital and publicly condemn the firm for its alleged involvement in "genocide profiteering." The letter has since grown to 63 signatures from creators who have either released films through MUBI, had films featured on its platform, or been involved in projects connected to the company.
The backlash follows MUBI's announcement of its investment from Sequoia Capital in late May, which was intended to "accelerate our mission of delivering bold and visionary films to global audiences." In response to the criticism, MUBI stated that the rationale for the investment was based on Sequoia's "50-plus year history of partnering with founders to help turn their ideas into world-changing businesses." However, the company's statement did not address the ethical concerns raised by the filmmakers.
Sequoia Capital maintains close ties to the Israeli military, having invested in the defense-tech startup Kela, which is currently developing a battlefield operating system aimed at integrating artificial intelligence with commercial technologies for military applications. No new information about Sequoia Capital's ties to Kela or the defense-tech startup's battlefield operating system was provided in this paragraph.
The open letter signed by filmmakers urges Mubi to publicly condemn Sequoia Capital, remove Sequoia partner Andrew Reed from Mubi's board, and adopt an ethical policy for future investments, following guidelines from the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel. Chile's Valdivia Film Festival has also canceled screenings of Mubi films, citing Sequoia funding.
Mubi has yet to respond publicly to the letter, but some prominent voices in the film industry defend MUBI’s role as a supporter of quality cinema, arguing that criticism should not "destroy good companies." However, the ongoing protests and public statements continue to put pressure on MUBI to reconsider its investor relationships amid geopolitical and ethical concerns.
The controversy coincides with worsening conditions in Gaza, where U.N. experts report that the "worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out," with severe restrictions on aid causing widespread human suffering.
In a separate development, more than 1,000 tech workers signed an open letter calling for disciplinary action against Shaun Maguire, a partner at Sequoia, for social media posts about Zohran Mamdani that were widely condemned as Islamophobic. Additionally, filmmaker Eddie Huang claimed Mubi "shelved" his documentary Vice Is Broke after he spoke out, though the company denied this, stating that discussions were ongoing.
The issue remains active, with ongoing calls for MUBI to reconsider its investor relationships amid geopolitical and ethical concerns.
- The Turkish Cinema and Broadcasting Workers Union in Turkey has joined the growing number of filmmakers and cinema workers protesting against MUBI's ties with Sequoia Capital.
- In light of the controversy, some business insiders question whether MUBI's investment from Sequoia Capital, known for its ties with the Israeli military, may impact the company's reputation in the global entertainment industry.
- As the issue continues to resonate in the film industry, political analysts have started to discuss the potential implications of the protest on Turkey's relationship with NATO, given the country's ongoing membership in the alliance.
- Meanwhile, financial experts have begun to explore the potential long-term consequences of the controversy on MUBI's financial performance, particularly in regions sensitive to ethical and geopolitical concerns.
