More film-makers are calling on Mubi, the upstart distributor which ushered The Substance to box office success and awards acclaim last year, to end its relationship with an investment firm with close ties to the Israeli military.
A letter strongly criticizing the buzzy distribution company’s funding from the investor Sequoia Capital now has 63 signatures from creatives who have either made films released by Mubi, featured on its platform or acted in a project tied to the company. Radu Jude, Aki Kaurismäki, Miguel Gomes, Sarah Friedland, Joshua Oppenheimer and Cherien Dabis were among the first to sign the letter, first published by Variety on 30 July. More followed, including the Israeli directors Ari Folman (Waltz with Bashir) and Nadav Lapid (Synonyms, Ahed’s Knee); Amalia Ulman, whose second feature Magic Farm was released by Mubi earlier this year; and Alex Russell, whose debut feature Lurker was acquired by Mubi out of Sundance for release later this month.
