Alexander Sokurov revealed the reasons for the cancellation of the performance at the Venice Biennale

Director Alexander Sokurov did not arrive at the Venice Biennale in May, where he was supposed to give a lecture, since the organizers did not provide him with the necessary approvals and tickets in time.

The director attributes this to the fact that "the leadership of the biennale at that time was a difficult political situation, a conflict with the Ministry of Culture of Italy," Sokurov said in an interview with Kommersant.

“There is no intrigue here. No one told me to leave Russia. I have already prepared the text of the speech, the director explained.

On the eve of the opening of the Biennale, a scandal broke out related to the participation of Russia and Israel in it. The scandal led to the fact that the European Commission deprived the Venice Biennale of a grant of €2 million, and the resignation of the jury in its entirety.

Alexander Sokurov’s speech was announced as part of a series of public events under the headline “Differences and Peace” and was scheduled to take place on May 6. The cancellation of the event was announced on the eve of the press service of the Biennale, indicating that the Director “at the last moment could not come.”.

More details - in an interview with Alexander Sokurov.