Doha Film Festival Cancels ‘Fing!’ International Premiere

Qatar’s Doha Film Festival has pulled Fing! from its program following sexual misconduct allegations against UK actor and writer David Walliams who wrote the book on which it is based.

The family movie, which world premiered in Sundance, was due to make its international premiere as part of the festival’s gala lineup this Friday.

The decision to remove the film from the program was made within hours of news breaking on Tuesday that Walliams was at the heart of allegations involving exploitative sexual activity with girls and young women.

Little Britain star Walliams, who has denied the allegations, had sought to prevent the publication of a joint investigation by the UK’s ITN News and The Guardian newspaper with an injunction. The allegations have sent shock waves through the UK entertainment world and beyond.

Ticketholders for the Fing! gala event in Doha were informed that the screening had been cancelled and that full refunds would be given. The festival has confirmed the decision to Deadline.

It was first announced in October that Fing! would play in the Doha Film Festival as part of its gala program also featuring Paper Tiger, Furies, Edward Said: Between Worlds and Bruno Dumont’s Red Rocks.

Based on Walliams’ eponymous 2019 children’s book, Fing! stars Taika Waititi, Mia Wasikowska, Matt Lucas and Iona Bell and is directed by Australian director Jeffrey Walker. Walliams co-wrote the screenplay.

It is produced by AGC Studios, Bondit Media Capital in L.A., Elevate Media Production in Australia and Walliams’ production company King Bert.

The producers announced on Tuesday that they had cut Walliams from a cameo scene, while a number of distributors have cancelled or scaled back release plans.

Comcast-owned Sky has pulled out as the UK and Ireland licensee of the film, while in Australia, its distributor Transmission Films has said it will removed Walliams from its publicity, and streamer distributor Stan has said it will no longer release the movie.

As of Tuesday, family friendly-distributor Angel, which acquired Fing! in May, said it was pushing on with a scheduled release in early 2027.