MUBI Festival Canceled After Controversy Over Ties to Israeli Occupation

This article originally appeared in the July 3, 2025 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier lefist daily newspaper.

Mexico City. MUBI, the streaming platform specializing in independent and arthouse films, announced via its social media channels that it has canceled MUBI Fest 2025, which was scheduled to take place from July 4 to 6 at the [publicly operated] Cineteca Nacional in Mexico City.

According to a statement published on July 2, the decision was made due to “safety considerations” and to prioritize an optimal audience experience. “We know that many of you were looking forward to a memorable weekend filled with carefully curated screenings,” the publication states.

He also asserts that MUBI remains committed to creating spaces “where voices are heard on and off screen” and that it “unconditionally supports the principles of freedom of expression that guide both film and protest.”

The cancellation coincides with various criticisms and calls for a boycott, as according to the Financial Times, on May 31, 2025, MUBI received a $100 million growth investment from Sequoia Capital, a US venture capital fund with a strong presence in Israel’s military-tech sector.

Since October 2023, amid the offensive on Gaza, Sequoia Capital has funded several defense and cybersecurity-related companies. One of them is Kela, an Israeli military technology startup founded by former intelligence officers. Furthermore, Israel Shaun Maguire, one of Sequoia Capital’s partners, has publicly positioned himself in favor of the Israeli government and defended the military offensive in Gaza.

Pro-Palestinian organizations, collectives, and social media users accused MUBI of partnering with companies “tainted with money that finances death and occupation in Palestine,” prompting calls for a boycott and urging people to cancel their subscriptions.

Following the criticism, the streaming platform published a message on June 14 defending its relationship with Sequoia, arguing that collaborating with the firm serves to accelerate its mission of delivering bold and visionary cinema to global audiences.

“In recent days, some members of our community have commented on the decision to work with Sequoia given its investment in Israeli companies and the personal opinions expressed by one of its partners. The beliefs of individual investors do not reflect the views of MUBI,” the post reads.

Since October 7, 2023, 56,500 people have been confirmed killed and 133,419 injured in Palestine by Israeli attacks, according to health authorities in the Gaza Strip.