Undercover: Exposing the Far Right, a documentary directed by Havana Marking (Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Cyber Attacks, The Kleptocrats) about far-right activists in the U.K., was pulled from the weekend program of the 68th BFI London Film Festival (LFF) at the last minute amid concerns over the safety and wellbeing of staff, security and audience members.
“After exploring all the viable options to screen this film at a public film festival, we took the heartbreaking decision to not present Undercover: Exposing the Far Right at the LFF,” festival director Kristy Matheson said in a statement. “I think the film is exceptional and easily one of the best documentaries I have seen this year. However, festival workers have the right to feel safe and that their mental health and well-being is respected in their workplace.”
She explained: “I took on board the expert opinion of colleagues around the safety and well-being risks that the screening could have created for audiences and the team and that informed our decision, which we did not take lightly. The film is incredibly important, and we wish it the very best.”
The doc, of which the BFI is a financier through the BFI Doc Society Fund, follows investigators from the organization Hope Not Hate as they track down members of far-right factions who are planning demonstrations and intimidation campaigns. It also dives into connections a far-right British activist has to the U.S.
It will now first air on British broadcaster Channel 4 on Monday.
Director Marking criticized the decision to pull the premiere, telling The Observer it was “a very unfortunate outcome.” She added: “I understand the festival need to look after their staff, but I am furious that our film has lost a planned theatrical release so late.”
There have been fears about violence after recent far-right riots in Britain. “We were told the LFF felt they could not show it due to security issues,” concluded Marking. “I do feel, though, that the power of the far right is exaggerated, although their influence is clearly dangerous.”
