Leading Media Agencies Disappointed by ‘Unprecedented’ New Red Carpet and Press Conference Restrictions at Venice Film Festival

special: Leading media agencies Getty, AP and Reuters had impromptu talks yesterday at the Venice Film Festival about “unprecedented” new restrictions on red carpet and press conferences.

We understand that agencies are tired of new broadcast regulations limiting the use of red carpet footage to 90 seconds and their ability to film press conferences.

The restrictions apply to all accredited television media outlets, not just agencies, so all accredited broadcasters on the red carpet had to sign a waiver to gain access.

Organizers put them in a negative and unlikely spot, telling agencies that perform vital functions at festivals that the restrictions are based on “new laws” but that companies were not aware of these provisions in advance. He questioned his future involvement in Lido. The festival declined to comment when contacted.

The changes come after the festival signed a new deal (including increased red carpet availability and press conferences) with Italian broadcaster Rai. Rai met with Andrea Del Mercato, executive director of the Venice Film Festival, and a lawyer yesterday morning to meet with the agencies.

We got winds of disappointment earlier this week. When we approached one of the agencies, a journalist told us during the discussion: “We were shocked. We’ve been coming here for over 10 years and this is the first time. This has not happened at any other major festival. This is a form of censorship. How to tell the story of a press conference in 90 seconds of pool footage? We are aware that there have been discussions with the European Broadcasting Union about possible changes over the summer, but we were not informed about the changes on the ground.

An agency told us that the festival recommended they buy more Rai images; This was something they had never done in the past.

The changes put agencies in doubt as to their place at the festival, whose footage has been used by hundreds of international broadcasters over the years.

“This denies our reason for being here,” one agency told us. “All of our partners are confused. We are contacting customers who are disappointed with the lack of images they have received from us. We are consulting with our lawyers about our next steps.”

It could also have a more direct knock-on effect for movies and talent, the agency tells us. “If their talents and films are limited to red carpets and press conferences in Venice, they will need to hold separate, independent press conferences elsewhere on the Lido,” a senior communications official said.

We also contacted the European Publishers Association, which mediates the negotiations between agencies, publishers and festivals.