Canada's customs officers seized three lesbian and gay-themed films enroute to Canada's Inside Out LGBT film festival, according to Xtra.com. Officials gave no explanation for the seizure and the films will remain in custody until officials have had a chance to personally screen them for offensive content.
Director Shamim Sarif's cross-cultural lesbian-themed comedy I Can't Think Straight starring Lisa Ray and Sheetal Sheth, Adrian Shergold's made-for-TV Clapham Junction, about a group of South London gay men, and Ella Lemhagen's Patrik Age 1.5, about a gay couple who unwittingly adopt a teen thug are the films Canada's Border Agency customs officers pulled enroute to the festival, which ends Nov. 22. All three films are Here! Media releases.
"I was roving mad today," says Jason St-Laurent, Inside Out's programming director. If they can't find a solution, the festival stands to lose thousands of dollars.
While Canada legalized gay marriage several years ago, border officials have formerly, notoriously snatched gay content. Little Sister's Bookstore successfully sued the agency in 2000 after customs' officials pulled 'pornographic' titles intended to be stocked at the Vancouver-based bookstore.
Inside Out festivalgoers in Ottawa booed and hissed upon mention of the CBSA.
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