Toronto International Film Festival withdraws Ulrich Seidl's 'Sparta' world premiere. Know why

Sparta was to be premiered on Friday afternoon in Toronto film festival. Still, it is unknown whether or not the film would be shown following the allegations published by Der Spiegel, a German magazine, against Ulrich and the production.

What does the investigation say?
It reports that the young actors didn't know about the pedophilic theme of the film. Further, it says there was a lack of preparation while the actors faced nudity, violence and alcoholism.

According to Der Spiegel, a six months investigation was involved while Sparta's production in Romania, Germany and Austria. Its journalists had also spoken to the crew members and actors.


Responses by Ulrich SeidI and his lawyer
Seidl's lawyer said the film does not include any pedophilic content. They also denied the allegations regarding child exploitation.




Ulrich SeidI posted a statement on his website saying that his film Sparta was based on an actual incident. The movie shows a man in his forties starting a new life after moving away to a remote area and making a fortress from an old, broken school with many young boys. Seidl also reveals that the man keeps hiding the truth from those boys and the world throughout the movie. Also, he is forced to face it while fighting against the pedophilic urges growing inside him.

His films require long shooting durations, which can only be completed with the trust built during the filming. He never decided anything that would hamper the actors' physical or mental well-being due to his respect for them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Q. What does TIFF say about this?

• TIFF has issued a statement on their official festival page saying:
• They have withdrawn Sparta from the festival.
• They are sorry for any inconvenience caused.
• Soon the TIFF Customer Relations will send an email to the ticket holders.

Q. What makes Ulrich SeidI famous?
The famous Europe Director is known for his German language movies that show raw scenes while featuring explicit sexual content and well. Two of his films, Paradise: Love (2012) and Import Export (2007), took part in the Palme d'Or at Cannes.