Canada: Theatres halt screening of Indian films after arson attacks

Ottawa: Several theatres in Canada are withdrawing screenings of Indian movies following arson attacks on cinema halls over the past one week. York Cinemas on Friday, India time, announced that it will not be screening Indian movies until further notice. In the statement, the company’s management stated that the decision has been taken for the safety of its employees and guests.

“Dear Patrons, Please note that, due to recent incidents, we will not be screening Indian movies until further notice. This decision has been made with the safety of our employees and guests in mind. Advance ticket purchases will be refunded, and the amount should appear in your account within a few business days,” read a statement issued by the York Cinemas.

Similarly, Film.Ca Cinemas of Toronto also announced that it was cancelling screenings of South Asian films following an arson attempt and a shooting on its property in the past week.

The cinema company stated that the two incidents occurred at its Oakville location in Ontario, the latest on the night of October 2 when a suspect fired multiple rounds through the entrance doors of the building. The theatre was shut at the time and no casualty was reported, Canada-based CBC News reported.

Last week, two suspects had used a flammable liquid to set the entrance doors of the theatre on fire. Halton police said that the blaze was contained and it did not cause significant damage as they continue to investigate the September 25 incident.

“You may have seen or heard about the recent arson attempt on our cinema. The good news: only the entrance was affected, and the rest of the theatre is completely safe, undamaged, and fully operational. These cowardly acts occurred overnight, when we were closed and no guests or staff were present. We’ve since enhanced security to ensure the ongoing safety of everyone who visits,” Jeff Knoll, CEO of Film.Ca Cinemas, formerly Encore Cinemas, said in a statement on September 27.

Similar incidents have also been reported at other theatres in the Greater Toronto area and British Columbia, as per a CBC News report. Some distributors of South Indian films in Canada have claimed that there is an ongoing campaign to stop screening of popular movies in Canadian theatre chains in order to control the market and safeguard profits.

IANS