August
26 Now they tell us: "Towelhead" is offensive, says American-Islamic group

The Los Angeles branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has asked Warner Bros. "to consider changing the title" of Alan Ball's "Towelhead" before its Sept. 12 release because the term is a racial and religious slur. The film premiered at the 2007 Toronto festival under the title "Nothing is Private," but had been changed by the time it screened at Sundance. (Noted: "Towelhead" is also the name of the novel on which the film is based.) Asks Neil Miller, "Where was CAIR-LA then? If these groups really expect to have changes made based on the 'social implications' of releasing movies with offensive elements, perhaps they should get on their soapboxes a little earlier." [Film School Rejects]

>> RELATED: Former IRA infiltrator Martin McGartland has threatened legal action to stop the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of Kari Skogland's "Fifty Dead Men Walking," which is based on his autobiographical novel and stars Sir Ben Kingsley. The festival says it's moving forward with the screening Sept. 10. McGartland remains in hiding for fears of IRA retribution. [The Hollywood Reporter]