Aretha Franklin documentary pulled from TIFF lineup

TORONTO – A contentious Aretha Franklin documentary has been pulled from the lineup at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Festival organizers say they are disappointed that producers decided to withdraw the film.

Last week, a federal judge blocked the Telluride Film Festival from screening the doc without the singer’s consent.

Franklin’s lawyers argued that director Sydney Pollack said he wouldn’t use footage he shot in 1972 for commercial purposes without her agreement. Pollack died of cancer in 2008.

A screening at the Chicago Film Festival in October has also been cancelled.

Three screenings were planned for the Toronto film festival, which begins Thursday.

“We are extremely disappointed that Toronto audiences will not be able to see this extraordinary piece of art,” says the statement, issued Tuesday.

“The footage in the film is truly a cinematic treasure of twentieth century music and we hope global audiences will have opportunity to experience this film once a resolution is found.”