Aki Kaurismäki, Joshua Oppenheimer, Nina Menkes among filmmakers to condemn Mubi’s ties with Sequoia Capital

Around 40 filmmakers have signed a letter urging arthouse distributor, streaming platform and producer Mbi to cut ties with Sequoia Capital, an investment company with ties to the Israeli military, and publicly condemn Sequoia for “genocide benefits” in terms of the war in Gaza.

The filmmaker signing the letter had previously worked with Mbi and was added to the mounting pressure on the company to reconsider its relationship with Sequoia.

These include the Finland’s Aquikaurismagi. Fallen leaves Distributed by Mbi. American filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer, end UK – Purchased by Mbi for Ireland, Germany and Austria. Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude; Don’t expect too much from the end of the world Mbi bought it for territory, including North America. Nina Menkes, an American filmmaker.

“Mbi’s financial growth as a company is now explicitly linked to Gaza’s genocide, which suggests all of us working with Mbi,” the letter states.

“Gaza has endured the mass murder of civilians, including journalists, artists and film workers, alongside the extensive destruction of Palestinian cultural sites and heritage. We believe the arthouse film platform cannot partner with companies investing in killing Palestinian artists and filmmakers while meaningfully supporting the global community of Cinefeel.

Scroll down through full signer characters and list

First reported letter Varietyand asks Mbi to listen to the call for Palestinian international industrial activist organised film workers to publicly condemn sequoia capital for “genocide benefits.” Remove Sequoia’s partner Andrew Reed from Mbi’s board of directors. We introduce ethical policies for all future Mbi investments and respect the programming and partnership guidelines set out by the Palestinian campaign for Israel’s Academic and Cultural Boycott (PACBI).

Sequoia Capital has ties to Israeli defense technology company Kela. Sequoia led a $100 million investment in Mbi in May this year.

Kera was founded in July 2024 and is developing an operating system that allows the military to integrate artificial intelligence and commercial technology.

According to Sequoia’s website, Sequoia led Kela’s seed funding round last year. Kera has since secured $60 million in additional funds backed by Sequoia, with a total investment in Kera currently at $100 million. Sequoia also has money for Apple, Google, Stripe, Airbnb and Bytedance.

Mbi posted a statement on her Instagram page in response to her initial criticism in June, saying, “Individual investors’ beliefs do not reflect Mbi’s views.”

Streamer-Distributor was forced to cancel the MbiFest event in Mexico after Mbi posted a statement on Instagram citing “safety considerations.” Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts was drawn from holding a Mbifest in November in the wake of a controversy over sequoia investment.

Mbi has declined screenA request to make further comments at this stage.

Dear Mbi’s leadership,

We write as a filmmaker with a professional relationship with Mbi in order to express serious concern with Mbi regarding Mbi’s decision to accept funds from Sequoia Capital, a private corporation that has chosen to double its investment in Israeli military technology companies with a goal of dedication from the Gazan Massacre from late 2023. In 2024, Sequoia invested heavily in Kera. Kera has invested heavily in a military technology startup founded by former senior manager of Palantille Israel and several Israeli military intelligence veterans, military drone manufacturer Neros, Manman aircraft manufacturer and Mach Industry.

Mbi’s financial growth as a company is now explicitly linked to Gaza’s genocide, hinting at all of us working with Mbi. We also believe that cinemas will be powerful. And we know that we can’t always control how our audience responds to our work and whether it moves and inspires them. But we can control how our work reflects our values and commitments. That is something that is completely ignored when our work is brought into an alliance with the private equity company of Genocide Property.

Gaza has endured the massive killing of civilians, including journalists, artists and film workers, alongside the extensive destruction of Palestinian cultural sites and heritage. The Arthouse film platform does not believe it can meaningfully support the global cinema community, partnering with companies that invested in killing Palestinian artists and filmmakers.

We approach our work with caution to the people and communities they represent, and the audience they see. Because as artists, we are more responsible than revenue. However, Mbi’s decision to partner with Sequoia shows the complete lack of accountability to the artists and communities who helped the company flourish. We believe that it is our ethical obligation to not cause harm. We hope that our partners will at least refuse to participate in the horrific violence unfolding against the Palestinians.

He listens to calls made by film workers for Palestine and asks artists and audiences, such an integral part of Mbi’s success, to take action that is meaningfully responds.

Sincerely,