Police have raided the home of Australian filmmaker RICHARD WOLSTENCROFT after he allegedly broke the law by holding a public screening of banned horror movie L.A. ZOMBIE.
The controversial film, directed by Bruce LaBruce and starring gay porn actor Francois Sagat, was due to be shown at the Melbourne International Film Festival in July (10), but the premiere was cancelled after officials at the Australian Classification Board refused to sanction the picture, which has been described as "gay zombie porn".
The Beautiful and The Damned director Wolstencroft, who runs the Melbourne Underground Film Festival, allegedly defied the ban over the summer (10) by hosting a public screening of the film.
Under Australian law, films which are refused classification may not be imported, sold, or distributed, which includes screening at public events.
Cops searched the director's Melbourne home on Thursday morning (11Nov10) and questioned him in connection with allegedly "exhibiting and possessing an unclassified film". Wolstencroft will appear in court at a later date to face unspecified charges.
The director tells the AAP, "Obviously we are really surprised that this has happened. We are talking to lawyers and we will prepare a defence... We have exhibited lesbian films, gay films, controversial political films. (L.A. Zombie) is people acting. Bruce LaBruce is a well regarded international filmmaker... I'm not sure what the problem is here."