Venice Film Festival Head's Past Ties to Far-Right, Iran Conversion Raise Concerns

Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, the president of the Venice Film Festival's foundation, is under scrutiny in Israel due to his past as a far-right activist, his conversion to Shia Islam, and his connections to Iran. Buttafuoco, an Italian intellectual and journalist, began his political career with the Italian Social Movement (MSI), a neo-fascist group. He later converted to Shia Islam, adopting the name Ja'far and the moniker "al-Siqilli" (the Sicilian).

Buttafuoco maintains relationships with religious and intellectual figures in Tehran and has written about Iran as a cultural center that could offer an alternative to the perceived crisis in the West. He has also expressed admiration for Moussa Sadr, founder of the Lebanese Shia movement Amal, and had past contact with the Khomeini and Sadr families. Some of his statements suggest a desire for Europe to return to Islamic principles.

His role in facilitating the screening of the controversial documentary "NAZA" (Collateral Damage) at the Venice Film Festival has drawn particular attention. Directed by Yuval Avraham and Rachel Shor, the film has sparked controversy in Israel, with the IDF and Shin Bet investigating potential leaks of classified documents to individuals interviewed in the film. The film has also been criticized by families of victims of the October 7th attacks for spreading falsehoods and dangerous propaganda.

Buttafuoco's support for "NAZA" is seen by i24NEWS as aligning with his view of the Venice Film Festival as a "cultural bridge" and his long-standing interest in Iran and the Shia world. The film itself received a standing ovation and the jury prize at the festival, further fueling the debate.