Director Larry Clark talks about Ken Park, in Hyde Park.

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Larry Clark’s controversial movie Ken Park has been pulled from the London Film Festival. Not because of its content, but because the director was involved in a fist fight with the film’s UK distributor, Hamish McAlpine.

Last Thursday night, at the Charlotte Street Hotel in London, Clark became embroiled in a discussion with McAlpine, allegedly about the September 11 attacks, which ended with the director punching McAlpine. “I’m sorry I lost control and acted in an uncivilised manner,” says Clark in a signed statement given to Collective, when we spoke to him on Sunday. “But if he was trying to provoke me, he did. He went to the hospital with a broken nose, and I went to jail.” He was later released with a caution.

Laura De Casto, managing editor of McAlpine’s company Metro Tartan, was sitting next to Clark when the fight broke out. "I saw Mr Clark stand up, throw a punch at Mr McAlpine, kick the table over, jump at him on the ground, and start choking him," she says. McAlpine, however, declined to comment when we contacted his office.

Ken Park, meanwhile, is without a distributor in the UK, as Metro Tartan have now ceased all dealings with the film. Which is a shame. Can’t you patch up your differences, boys, and give us all a chance to see the film? Jonathan Carter 11 November 02