Italy’s Culture Minister Sandro Bondi denounced Quentin Tarantino as "elitist" after the "Pulp Fiction" director headed a jury that honored ex-girlfriend Sofia Coppola with the top prize at the Venice film festival.
"Tarantino is an expression of an elitist, relativistic and snobbish culture," Bondi said in an interview to be published in Italian weekly Panorama on Friday, adding: "And his vision influences his critical judgments."
"The results of the festival oblige everyone to open their eyes and do some soul-searching," Bondi said.
As jury president at this year’s festival, Tarantino came under fire for seemingly favoring his friends for the top prizes.
Coppola won the Golden Lion for best film for "Somewhere" while Tarantino’s friend Álex de la Iglesia won a best director Silver Lion for "A Sad Trumpet Ballad."
Monte Hellman, Tarantino’s mentor and the executive director of his debut film "Reservoir Dogs," also won a Special Lion for his overall work.
Bondi said that from now on, Italy wanted a role in the selection of jury members at the prestigious festival, the world’s oldest.
"Since the funds are the state’s, from now on we want to get involved in the selection of jury members," Bondi said.
The festival’s budget this year was €12 million ($15.7 million), including €7 million from the Italian government.
The jury also included Tarantino’s fellow directors Arnaud Desplechin of France, Guillermo Arriaga of Mexico and Italian Gabriele Salvatores.
Twenty-four films competed in the Mostra, which screened 79 full-length world premieres from 34 countries all together over 11 days.
