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by james macgregor | August 17th, 2001 | contact: james@netribution.co.uk

Gas Film Risks Being Blown Off Screens

A film examining the plight of asylum-seekers in Glasgow may be banned by the city council because of fears it may inflame racial tensions .

Gas Attack explores the havoc wrought on Glasgow’s Kurdish community by a lone racist terrorist, armed with a biological weapon.

It is due to be shown in the Glasgow Film Theatre on 24 August, two days after its Edinburgh premiere, but tickets for the screening are no longer on sale from GFT.

According to Glasgow City Council, there is nothing unusual in the decision to refer the film’s certification to a meeting of the licensing committee.

Yet, despite the fact that Gas Attack is the only Scottish-made feature film showing as part of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, some of those involved in the making of the film believe a decision not to screen it has already been made. They believe the licensing meeting represents a last chance to make their case.

A source close to the film-makers said: "We understand the licensing people say it won’t be certificated. They say they are minded not to screen it because of the recent tensions."

The caution of the licensing committee reflects an unease that Gas Attack would be shown amid continuing tension in the Sighthill area of the city - following the murder of Firsat Dag and a second stabbing just days later.

Robina Qureshi, director of the anti-racist organisation Positive Action in Housing, who appears in the film, said any attempts to prevent the film being shown were misguided.

She said: "How can the film inflame matters? The situation is inflamed. It couldn’t come out at a better time. In a chilling way the timing of the film is apt.

"Censorship is not the answer.

"Dealing with things in a reasonable way is the sensible thing in the face of concerted attacks on asylum seekers.

"Why would you want to stop the film being shown? Is it too realistic? Is it too close to the bone?

"It’s asking questions of every local authority - it’s set in Glasgow, but it could be anywhere in the country."

The full committee meeting (which requires a quorum of seven, from a membership of 25) will be attended by a representative of the GFT, who will make the case for its Glasgow premiere.

Neither the convener nor the vice convener of the licensing committee was available for comment.

A spokesman for the city council insisted the decision to refer the film to the full committee was not uncommon where certification was required.

She added: "Due to the nature of the film, the sub-committee decided to continue consideration in order that a representative of the GFT could be present."

Gas Attack will be given a national network screening on Channel 4 early next month.

Northern Editor’s Note: In fact, the Glasgow Licensing Board at its meeting on Wednesday morning agreed the film could be licenced for screening in the city. No doubt the attendant publicity, with all the Scottish press featuring the story as well as Scottish TV news, must have gained the film very valuable free publicity. Let’s hope the Glasgow Film Theatre screens it to packed houses! James MacGregor


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