Venice Film Festival Head's Past Ties to Far-Right, Iran Draw Scrutiny

Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, the president of the Venice Film Festival's foundation, is facing scrutiny in Israel due to his past political and religious affiliations and his role in hosting the controversial documentary "NAZA" ("Collateral Damage"). 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."

Buttafuoco maintains connections with religious and intellectual figures in Tehran and has written about Iran as a cultural force 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 has had past contact with the Khomeini and Sadr families. Some of his statements suggest a desire for Europe to embrace Islam.

His position as president of the Venice Film Festival foundation led to the official screening of "NAZA," a documentary by Yuval Avraham and Rachel Shor. Buttafuoco views the festival as a "cultural bridge," which aligns with his long-standing interest in Iran and the Shia world. This decision has intensified controversy surrounding the film, which has already drawn sharp criticism in Israel.

The documentary "NAZA" has sparked significant backlash in Israel, with the IDF and Shin Bet launching an investigation into potential leaks of classified documents to individuals interviewed in the film. Families affected by the October 7th attacks have also condemned the film, with Iris Haim, mother of Yotam Haim, accusing its creators of spreading dangerous propaganda and falsehoods.