Author: Philip Oltermann, European culture editor

CensorshipCultureDrama filmsFestivalsFilmIranMiddle East and north AfricaVenice film festivalWorld cinemaWorld news

Iranian actor Laheh Marzban faces severe threats after Venice film festival speech

Marzban, who won a best actress award for her portrayal of a woman held hostage by her father in Falling House, has received condemnations from authorities after dedicating her prize to ‘the women of Iran’An Iranian actress who won the best newcomer aw…

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Venice best actress winner says she signed on at Danish job centre days before her victory

Mathilde Arcel, who won the Volpi Cup on Saturday for her role in Golden Lion winner Woman Unknown, said job offers have now begun to arriveThe winner of this year’s best actress prize at the Venice film festival has revealed that she is on unemploymen…

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Ukrainian film-maker criticises EU after it cuts Venice Biennale funding over Russia controversy

Sergei Loznitsa likens removal of €2m grant to ‘a punishment in kindergarten’ on eve of Venice film festivalOne of Ukraine’s most acclaimed film-makers has criticised the European Commission’s decision to cut off funds to the Venice Biennale over the o…

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In Venice, it’s not politics as usual as film-makers aim to recapture our attention

As social media shrinks and distorts the EU’s crises, the Venice film festival is delivering politically forthright epics from directors such as Sergei Loznitsa and Alex Gibney• Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereEurope is in…

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