The management of this London cinema event explained its decision not to present the film by British director Havana Marking, for fear of not being able to ensure the « security staff».
The screening of a documentary dedicated to the far-right movement in the United Kingdom and Europe was canceled this weekend at the London Film Festival (LFF), whose management cited fears for the « security » event staff. Undercover: Exposing The Far Rightproduced by the British company Havana Marking with the collaboration of the anti-racism organization Hope Not Hateinvestigated the methods and financing of several far-right movements and personalities in Europe. The documentary, which notably films certain actions of these movements using hidden cameras, reveals in particular the existence of a network defending and promoting racial inequality and its link with a rich American donor.
« After exploring all possible options for showing this film at a public festival, we have made the heartbreaking decision not to present Undercover: Exposing the Far Right »indicated the director of the LFF, Kristy Matheson, in a press release. Recognizing quality « exceptional » of the film, she however felt that « festival employees have the right to feel safe and have their mental health and well-being respected in the workplace », without giving further details.
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The director said to herself « furious » of the deprogramming of the film, even if she affirms « to understand » the desire of the festival to « take care of your employees », in a reaction delivered to the newspaper The Guardian. Havana Marking estimates that the far-right anti-immigration riots, which broke out this summer in the United Kingdom, « scared people ».
« It’s increasingly difficult to make documentaries with political content, and if we don’t guarantee them a screening, it really doesn’t help »she added. The film will be broadcast on Monday evening, October 21, on the British television channel Channel 4.