Indie Film From Beyoncé ‘Lemonade’ Collaborator Pulled From Sundance by Irate Financier Over Director’s Alleged ‘Secret’ Cut (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer An indie film set to premiere at this week’s Sundance Film Festival has been pulled from the lineup by its financier, Variety has learned exclusively.

The backer says the movie’s director made a secret new cut of the film, one used to enter global film festivals and court critics without its owner’s knowledge. “Blknws: Terms & Conditions,” an official selection in Sundance’s Next section, is directed by Kahlil Joseph (a contributor to Beyonce’s visual album “Lemonade”).

Participant, the now-defunct social impact studio, says it poured years and millions into the mixed-media project only to be sidelined by a new version of the feature.

In a legal communication from an attorney, obtained and verified by Variety, Participant said it was “shocked” to allegedly learn last Friday that Joseph was screening a new cut of the film to critics at talent agency CAA.