Film.Ca Cinemas and CEO threatened over Tamil film

WARNING: The following story includes primary source documents that contain explicit language.

Oakvilles Film.Ca Cinemas and its CEO, Jeff Knoll, are coming forward over multiple violent threats against Knoll, his family and the company in retaliation for a planned showing of a Tamil film at the cinema Ponniyin Selvanis scheduled to be released this Thursday, September 29th.

The threats are believed to have come from the same suspects who smashed two screens at the theater in late February this year. The connection is confirmed by the suspect’s reference to the February event.

Several emails have been sent to both the theater and Knoll personally, both threatening violent action if the theater decides to show the film this weekend. This includes threats against viewers who attend the film and against Knoll and his family directly.

“Warning to theater owners and workers if you plan to play organized criminal KW Talkies Saleem films, especially film PS1 [meaning Ponniyin Selvan]…. We will rip all your screens and release toxins in the environment and some of your staff will end up in the hospital …. This will only be a warning. “

– The first email sent to Film.Ca cinemas threatening viewers harm if the cinema goes ahead with the screening Ponniyin Selvan

In response to the threats, security at the theater is dramatically tightened ahead of several sold-out screenings Ponniyin Selvan scheduled for this weekend.

Officers from the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) are currently stationed at the theater with a “permanent presence” and are enhancing on-site security throughout the building, including all entrances and in all five public auditoriums.

Although as yet unconfirmed, the putative reason for Film.Ca and Knoll’s targeting is that Film.Ca’s agreement to show the film is severely impacting ticket sales of the same film from a competing theater in Scarborough. While the claim has been corroborated by multiple witnesses and Film.Ca employees, the HRPS has yet to confirm these details while the investigation is ongoing.

Ponniyin Selvan, is becoming a smash hit for the theater at a time when it desperately needs help: more than 3,000 tickets were sold in the first four days of the performance alone. Speaking to Oakville News, Knoll said the film is on track to become “Film.Ca’s best-selling film of all time” in its more than 30-year history.

“I am committed to moving forward and ignoring the threats, both as a matter of principle and for revenue,” Knoll said in response to the email threats received. But Knoll also admits, “Now my family is on high alert too,” although the HRPS officers on duty “were amazing.”

Below is a copy of the email the suspect sent directly to Knoll: (Note, spelling and grammar have not been edited from the original source)

“Advisor Knoll [referring to Jeff Knoll’s position as the current Ward 5 Town and Regional Councillor in Oakville]

You think you sincerely play Tamil films in your theater in Oakville. You are just a pawn for criminals and you will regret trying to be a hero to these scumbags. You’re just an asshole sticking your nose in something you know nothing about and have nothing to do with. Don’t be too happy with all the love you’re getting from kw-talkies on twitter [the company distributing Tamil movies in Canada] because you will pay a price.

You are a politician and all your information is online. We know where you live, what you drive, where your wife works and much more.

We also know that you are running with many voters who will not be happy that you are acting in a Tamil film.

Do you remember what happened in February? That was a friendly warning, and this is your last.

Cancel the movie or you will deeply regret what comes next.”

Aired on Monday 26 September at 10:53 p.m

The February hate crime was first reported by Oakville News after both screens at the Film.Ca theaters were slashed open with a knife. This incident was also committed in protest against Film.Ca, which was showing a non-English language film, this time in Telugu, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage. (Two suspects in connection with these attacks were arrested in July before being released.)

Ponniyin Selvanaccording to its official description, is an action/adventure drama about “Vandiyathevan, who sets out to cross Chola country to deliver a message from Crown Prince Adithya Karikalan”.

Knoll is also the Chair of the Halton Police Services Board.

Correction Sept 28 @ 5:30pm: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the film shown in February was also in Tamil. This movie was in Telugu.