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

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.

Security video shared online by Film.ca shows a grey SUV arriving in the parking lot at around 2 a.m. A hooded person appears to scope out the theatre entrance before reentering the car and driving away.

Cameras capture the grey SUV returning and circling the parking lot at both 2:27 and 2:49 a.m.

Just before 5:15 a.m., a white SUV pulls into the parking lot. Shortly after, the video shows two people arriving at the doors of the theatre and begin pouring liquid out of red jerrycans before one of them appears to light a match and throw it on the ground.

Bits of the fire are seen extending into the parking lot and the white SUV drives away.

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.

Theatre reacts to ‘threats’

In a video posted on social media the day after the fire, Film.ca CEO Jeff Knoll said the fire was tied to theatre showings of South Asian films.

“The other day, somebody tried to burn the theatre down in a dispute with respect to us playing South Asian films,” Knoll said in the video. “I want to let you know that we are open for business. We didn’t miss a show, and we just want you to feel safe and comfortable coming back to the movies.”

Knoll added that Film.ca is a community movie theatre and “we’re going to play what we want to play, when we want to play it.”

In an updated statement shared on Thursday, Film.ca said, “evidence seems to show that the participation in the exhibition of South Asian films has led to these incidents at our theatre and other theatres across the GTA.”

The theatre said as a result of the fire and shooting they are withdrawing screenings of Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 and They Call Him OG.

“We understand that these incidents may be connected to disagreements within the South Asian film industry,” the statement continued. “While we want to be clear that we do not wish to bow to threats, the situation has escalated to the point where we must take every precaution to protect our community.”

Anyone with information can contact Halton police at 905-825-4777, ext. 2216, or Crime Stoppers anonymously.