The Montreal World Film Festival has cancelled plans to screen the controversial film Karla after sponsors threatened to withdraw funds.

The festival had previously announced plans to host the Canadian premiere of the Karla Homolka/Paul Bernardo bio-pic.

“Half a dozen sponsors were going to pull their money,” said a source who had spoken to festival president Serge Losique. The most notable pressure came from Air Canada, as is being reported by The Globe and Mail.

“Air Canada informed the [Montreal World Film Festival] last week that it is cancelling its sponsorship of the event as a result of the festival’s decision to screen Karla,” Duncan Dee, a senior vice-president at Air Canada, said in an email to Marsha Boulton, the wife of Stephen Williams, author of two books about the Homolka-Bernardo case.

“In light of the reaction to its proposed showing of the film Karla, and the discomfort expressed by clients of its sponsors, MWFF organisers have decided against presenting the film,” organizers said Wednesday in a statement.

The festival runs from Aug. 26 to Sept. 5.

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