Venice Film Festival chief denies he’s anti-American

The director of the Venice Film Festival, Alberto Barbera, has backtracked from statements he made earlier in the week in which he praised European filmmakers for resisting what he repeatedly called “Hollywood imperialism.” In an interview with Reuters Television Barbera particularly praised France for producing films that fared bettered locally than U.S. offerings. However, on Wednesday Barbera told Reuters: “We have been accused of many things, especially of being anti-American and of setting up a sober and sad festival. They are both false.”