Aretha Franklin documentary pulled from TIFF lineup
TORONTO – A contentious Aretha Franklin documentary has been pulled from the lineup at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Festival organizers say they are disappointed that producers decided to withdraw the film.
Last week, a federal judge blocked the Telluride Film Festival from screening the doc without the singer’s consent.
Franklin’s lawyers argued that director Sydney Pollack said he wouldn’t use footage he shot in 1972 for commercial purposes without her agreement. Pollack died of cancer in 2008.
A screening at the Chicago Film Festival in October has also been cancelled.
Three screenings were planned for the Toronto film festival, which begins Thursday.
(The Canadian Press)
