‘Love Lies Bleeding’ Belgium Festival Screening Hit By “Homophobic, Discriminatory” Disruptions

Zac Ntim
·2 min read
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The Belgian distribution company behind the Kristen Stewart thriller Love Lies Bleeding has denounced what it described as “homophobic, discriminatory” disruptions during a weekend screening of the pic at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival.

“We are shocked and disappointed by the events during the screening of ‘Love Lies Bleeding’ last Saturday during the BIFFF (Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival),” Antwerp-based The Searchers said in a statement.

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“Several spectators testify on social media about the homophobic, discriminatory, and insulting statements from the audience during the screening of our film. As an independent and progressive distributor, we stand for a diverse and inclusive catalog and regret that viewers have felt unsafe.”

The Searchers added that it was “baffled” by the “lack of an appropriate response from the film festival.”

“For years we have collaborated with the BIFFF with our extensive selection of films. As long as the film festival does not take adequate and decisive action to guarantee that films can be viewed in a safe and respectful manner, we will no longer collaborate with the film festival in the future,” the company’s statement read.

Festival attendees began posting their experience of the screening Saturday evening, with testimonies of “misogynistic comments and insults” from people in the crowd leading to other audience members leaving the screening in large groups.

After attendees went public, the festival released a statement describing behavior during the screening as “unacceptable.”

Love Lies Bleeding debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. From Saint Maud filmmaker Rose Glass, the film follows reclusive gym manager Lou (Stewart) who falls hard for Jackie (Katy O Brian), an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to Vegas in pursuit of her dream. But their love ignites violence, pulling them deep into the web of Lou’s criminal family. Pic was written by Glass and Weronika Tofilskav.

The film currently doesn’t have a release date in Belgium. A24 released the pic in the States.

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