THERE was drama at the Durban International Film Festival last night after the flighting of a movie set to open the event was stopped.

The Film and Publications Board [FPB] objected to the screening of the movie, saying it contained scenes that constitute child pornography.

Jahmil XT Qubeka, the director of the film Of Good Report, refused to comment.

This is according to festival organisers who, instead of screening the movie, displayed an image and announced the FPB's objection.

The audience was left shocked as the movie's actors, one after the other, stepped on stage to express their disappointment.

"It doesn't seem like a valid excuse to me," said disappointed lead actor Mothusi Makgano.

A tearful event organiser, Peter Machen, said he was shocked and heartbroken.

He said the FPB had refused to give the movie a classification ahead of the festival's commencement.

Machen said he felt there was a rise of conservatism in the classification of films in the country.

Machen said they found out on Wednesday afternoon that the film would not be classified, but they were given room to appeal.

Appeal processes, he said, were not completed in time.

Going ahead with the screening would have constituted a criminal offence. But strangely, the festival organisers decided not to replace the film with another.