Canada- String of bizarre cinema attacks involving South Indian language films, Ontario, 2021.

[dotr]

Cineplex movie screens in Ontario torn, latest in string of attacks tied to south Indian-language films | National Post
Nov 23 2021

''Cineplex shut down screenings of the Indian crime thriller Kurup last week after seven screens at two of its Toronto-area theatres were vandalized, says the movie’s distributor. It’s the latest in a string of bizarre cinema attacks involving movies in south Indian languages. Photo by Handout

''The south Indian cinema wars have erupted again in Canada.
Vandals tore seven screens at Cineplex theatres in the Toronto area that had been showing a popular movie in the Malayalam language, says the movie’s distributor, prompting the chain to shut down the screenings despite the large audiences they were drawing.

It’s just the latest in a bizarre string of attacks over the last six or more years that distributors say have cost them tens of thousands of dollars in lost business — and may be depriving Ontario moviegoers of some Indian cinematic fare.

In previous incidents dating back to 2015, which often prompted police involvement, saboteurs even released pepper-spray-like noxious substances in crowded theatres that were showing movies from south India.

Distributors are pointing the finger at a group of independent cinemas they believe is perpetrating the mayhem in a bid to corner the market on screening of the films. That company denies any part in the incidents.

It makes you almost paranoid

The latest target was Kurup, a crime thriller in Malayalam, the language predominately spoken in Kerala state.

“It’s a big loss for us,” said Bijo Sebastian, whose company Achayan’Z Film House is distributing Kurup. “We all feel disappointed and sad.… People were watching it and wanted to see it. After COVID, theatres are coming back slowly.”

 

[dotr]

Fakiha Baig · The Canadian Press · Posted: Apr 06, 2024

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/south-indian-movie-screenings-1.7164011

'Shajan, a self-described South Indian film fanatic, said he had been waiting months to see Malaikottai Vaaliban, a blockbuster Malayalam-language film about an aging warrior who reigns over a vast desert.

Hours before the scheduled showtime in late January, Cineplex sent a message saying the screening had been cancelled and the company would be issuing a refund "due to circumstances outside our control."

''Earlier in the day, police in Ontario reported shootings at four theatres in the Greater Toronto Area, which had been planning to show Malaikottai Vaaliban. Windows were shattered in some locations, but no injuries were reported.

York Regional Police said this month that while the drive-by shootings in their area remained under investigation, they believe the incidents were targeted and involved the same suspect. ''

 

[LadyL]

so strange

 

[dotr]

April 25 '24

Dodge Ram truck linked to series of drive-by cinema shootings in York, Peel and Toronto, say police

On Jan. 24, officers were called to a theatre in the area of Hwy. 7 and East Beaver Creek in Richmond Hill after an employee arrived for work and found that glass front entry doors had been shot, say police.

www.yorkregion.com

Investigators say a silver 2019 Dodge Ram has been linked to four shootings at movie theatres in Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Peel Region and Toronto last January.
York police photo

''Investigators say a silver 2019 Dodge Ram has been linked to four shootings at movie theatres in Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Peel Region and Toronto last January.
On Jan. 24, officers were called to a theatre in the area of Hwy. 7 and East Beaver Creek in Richmond Hill after an employee arrived for work and found the glass front entry doors had been damaged by gunfire, say police.
That same day, continue police, officers responded to a similar call at a theatre in Vaughan in the area of Hwy. 7 and Weston Road.
Similar shootings occurred at other theatres in Toronto and Peel Region that same night, which York police believe are linked to the incidents in their region.''

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[dotr]

May 3 2024

Suspect arrested in string of shootings outside GTA movie theatres: police

Police say they have arrested a man wanted in connection with a string of shootings outside movie theatres across the GTA.

www.cp24.com

''Police allege that the same suspects are responsible for all four shootings.

One suspect, identified by investigators as Andrew Douglas, a 27-year-old Markham resident, was arrested on April 30, police said in a news release issued Friday.''

 

[dotr]

May 24, 2024 4:06PM EDT

Video shows Richmond Hill cinema shot at by suspects in vehicles three times in a week

York Regional Police have released a video showing suspects in vehicles shooting at a cinema in Richmond Hill three separate times this past week.

www.cp24.com

''York Regional Police have released a video showing suspects in vehicles shooting at a cinema in Richmond Hill three separate times this past week.
Police say they have been called to the movie theatre located near East Beaver Creek and Highway 7 three times since May 17 for reports of shots fired.
The latest one happened Friday morning when an employee arrived for work and found the windows of the main entrance shattered, police said.''

 

[dotr]

July 3 2024

Cops release video after 4th shooting in 2 months at Richmond Hill theatre

Police have released video of what they say is the fourth shooting since mid-May to target a Richmond Hill cinema.

torontosun.com

York Regional Police are seeking information on this blue Honda linked to a shooting at a movie theatre in Richmond Hill. PHOTO BY YORK REGIONAL POLICE
''Police have released video of what they say is the fourth shooting since mid-May to target a Richmond Hill cinema, as investigators appeal for more information.''

''Yet, York Regional Police say the latest movie theatre attacks are not believed to be linked to a similar spate of shootings in January that targeted the same cinema and others across the GTA.''

In video released by police, a blue sedan pulls into view and a person sitting in the rear passenger-side window sticks a gun out the window and fires five shots before the car drives off.

''York Regional Police say the same theatre was shot at on three separate occasions in May, and Const. James Dickson says investigators believe the latest incident is connected to weekend shootings in Toronto.''

 

[dotr]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Sep 25, 2025
''Film.Ca Cinemas Remains Open and Committed to Community Located at 171 Speers Road in Oakville, Film.Ca was the target of an attempted arson attack in the early morning hours of September 25, 2025. Fortunately, no staff or guests were on site at the time, and the theatre remains fully open to the public.Film.Ca Cinemas is fully cooperating with Halton Regional Police in their ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Halton Regional Police at 905-845-4747 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Additional security will be present at the theatre during screenings to ensure the safety of all guests.''

October 2 2025

South Asian film screenings cancelled at Oakville movie theatre following ‘targeted’ fire and shooting

A movie theatre in Oakville has pulled several screenings of South Asian films after it was the target of a fire and a shooting on two separate occasions in the past week.

www.cp24.com

A movie theatre in Oakville has pulled several screenings of South Asian films after it was the target of a fire and a shooting on two separate occasions in the past week.
''A movie theatre in Oakville, Ont., has pulled several screenings of South Asian films after it was the target of a fire and a shooting on two separate occasions in the past week.

The theatre, Film.ca, located on Speers Road near Dorval Drive, was first targeted on Sept. 25 at around 5:20 a.m. when Halton police say two suspects carrying red gas cans “used a flammable liquid to ignite a fire at the exterior entrance doors of the theatre.”

They say the fire remained contained to the exterior and the theatre sustained moderate damage.

The first suspect is described by police as wearing black pants, a black hoodie, dark-coloured high top shoes, gloves and a medical mask.

The second was also wearing black pants and a black hoodie, as well as white socks, gloves, a medical mask, and was carrying a cellphone.''

''A week later, on Oct. 2, Halton police say a single suspect approached the theatre at 1:50 a.m. and fired multiple rounds through the entrance doors of the building.

Police describe the suspect in the shooting as a male with dark skin and a heavy build who was wearing all black clothing and a black face mask.

Police said they believe both incidents are targeted.''