Terrorism threat forces closure of Belgian film festival

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/23/terrorism--closure-of-belgian-film-festival

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A film festival based in the Belgian city of Tournai has been cancelled over fears that it was being targeted by terrorists.

The Ramdam festival, which was first staged in 2011, had opened its doors on 20 January with a screening of the New Zealand speed-chess drama The Dark Horse and was due to run until 27 January. However, on Thursday 22, police ordered the Imagix cinema complex, the festival’s main venue, to be evacuated, and the festival organisers were forced to suspend activities.

In a statement issued by the mayor’s office and the Tournai police, the authorities said that there was “a particularly high level” of risk of an attack against the complex. In a statement posted on Imagix’s website, the festival organisers said that they “deplored and profoundly regretted” having to announce the festival’s closure, but that “the soul of the festival will be reinforced by these events”.

Among the films not able to receive their screening were The Voices, from Persepolis director Marjane Satrapi and the Oscar-nominated Whiplash, featuring Miles Teller and JK Simmons.

Belgium has been on a high terror alert since the killing of two suspected jihadis and the arrest of 13 more during co-ordinated counter-terror raids by police earlier in January in the immediate aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris.