Moore film distributor OK with terror support

June 22, 2004

The company distributing filmmaker Michael Moore’s Bush-bashing movie “Fahrenheit 9/11” says it won’t reject an offer of help from Middle East terrorist organization Hezbollah.

As WorldNetDaily reported, terrorists affiliated with the Iran-backed network last week offered to help promote the film in the United Arab Emirates.

The movie industry publication Screen Daily reported, “In terms of marketing the film, [distributor] Front Row is getting a boost from organizations related to Hezbollah which have rung up from Lebanon to ask if there’s anything they can do to support the film.”

The story then quotes Front Row Managing Director Gianluca Chacra: “We can’t go against these organizations as they could strongly boycott the film in Lebanon and Syria.”

Terror-war supporting organization Move America Forward publicized the Chacra quote and reacted strongly against it.

“Michael Moore dismisses Americans who are upset with his film and the impact it has in undermining support for the war against terrorism,” said Vice Chair Melanie Morgan. “At the same time, his distribution companies are concerned about offending the sensibilities of terrorists. That certainly gives rise to asking the question: Whose side are you on?”

As WND reported, many theater owners are showing caution about running overtly political film, which officially opens nationwide on Friday.

Last month, the Moore and his partners boasted the movie would be rolled out in more than 1,000 theaters nationwide.

Later, that number was revised to “about 1,000.” The next estimate was 750. In recent days, the guess had dropped to below 500.

“Michael Moore has made it clear that this film is nothing more than an attempt to undermine support for the war on terrorism, and movie theater operators have made it clear they wish to have no part in Moore’s anti-military propaganda,” said Howard Kaloogian, chairman of Move America Forward. “This movie is about as popular as ice in Antarctica, and movie theaters are giving Michael Moore’s ‘bash America’ flick a chilly reception.”