The cinematic world is reeling from an unexpected outburst of discrimination that overshadowed the Brussels premiere of A24’s newest feature, “Love Lies Bleeding.” What began as an anticipated screening event quickly devolved into a scene of discomfort and chaos, with attendees of the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFFF) hurling homophobic and misogynistic insults that disrupted the showing and led to over 60 individuals vacating the venue in a mass walkout, resulting in protests.
According to reports from Variety, jeers and derogatory remarks began to punctuate the darkness of the 1,400-seat auditorium less than halfway through the film, which features a queer love story. What started as stray comments snowballed into a cacophony of hate speech, thoroughly undermining the inclusive spirit that the festival sought to promote.
Jonathan Lenaerts, the press chief for BIFFF, was quick to condemn the vitriol that infiltrated the event. He transparently addressed the issue, admitting that even ten dissenting voices among the crowd were ten too many. Emphasizing the festival’s vision of creating a space where all individuals could enjoy the art of filmmaking without fear of persecution, he assured that the festival would take decisive action against any such displays of bigotry.
One filmgoer, Elina Fischer, recounted the night as traumatic, stating that the hostility reached a point where some feared for their personal safety. The inflammatory nature of the comments sparked intense fear among the audience members who identified as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Witnesses to the incident describe a palpable rise in tension as comments escalated to verbal, and on the brink of physical, conflicts. Despite best efforts to restore order, the screening room became a battleground for civility, prompting a significant portion of the audience to stand in solidarity with those targeted and exit the screening in protest.
The uproar didn’t subside with their departure. A spectator, who preferred to remain anonymous under the pseudonym Næ Palm, spoke of a nightmarish atmosphere where standing up against the abuse led to even harsher insults, leaving many overwhelmed and in tears.
The confrontation wasn’t confined to the confines of the theater; it spilled out as protestors voiced their demands for the festival to put an end to the screening. The growing unrest necessitated intervention from law enforcement officials to keep the peace and ensure safety for all those in attendance.
In an age where social media carries the torch of virality, a tweet containing a video of the incident underscored the derogatory outbursts, capturing the event’s fraught atmosphere and fervent calls to action from the disheartened audience.
As the dust settled, the organizer’s and attendees’ disappointment in the turn of events was palpable. Lenaerts, speaking with Variety, reiterated the festival’s zero-tolerance policy towards this form of harassment. He likened the vitriol to a contaminant, defiling what should have been a pure celebration of cinema. The festival promised to impose stringent measures moving forward, vowing that any semblance of such behavior would result in the immediate removal of the perpetrator from the event.
Though the premiere was marred by this unfortunate episode, “Love Lies Bleeding” continues to be showcased in Indian theatres, crossing geographical boundaries yet also revealing the universal battles against bigotry that persist within diverse cultural landscapes. The incident is not just a blemish on BIFFF but a stark reminder of the challenges that the film industry and society at large face in promoting equality, respect, and understanding across all walks of life.
