TIFF pulls Aretha Franklin doc Amazing Grace from festival

TIFF is going to R.E.S.P.E.C.T Aretha Franklin’s demand not to show her legally embattled music documentary Amazing Grace at film festivals.
The Toronto International Film Festival announced Tuesday it is pulling the movie from its opening night roster, after producer Alan Elliott bowed to legal demands from the soul superstar, whose hits include “Respect” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”
The film was directed by the late Sydney Pollack, but never released due to various problems, the main one being syncing issues between the 16mm film and the analog tapes.
The syncing problems were recently overcome, and the film was due to have its international premiere Thursday as part of TIFF’s opening night roster. But outstanding legal issue remains, and Franklin’s lawyers successfully obtained an injunction Friday that halted the planned world premiere of Amazing Grace at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado.
Full Toronto Star story