New Ali G film set for 150 screenings in Dutch cinemas this weekend

The new Ali G film will be screened about 150 times across 44 cinemas in the Netherlands this weekend, in a limited release following a campaign against its release. Distributor The Searchers gave the screening estimate, Nieuws.nl reported. The film will not run for the full cinema week, as is customary in the Netherlands. [1]

In *Ali G: Who Iz I?*, Sacha Baron Cohen’s comic character attempts a comeback. British campaign group NewsCord called for the film not to be released, arguing that the character is sexist and racist. Nieuws.nl reported that *The Hollywood Reporter* said the campaign prompted tens of thousands of emails to cinemas worldwide. [1]

Cohen has defended making the sequel. In an essay for *Time* earlier this week, he argued that the perception of Ali G as “outdated and problematic” was a reason to bring the character back, saying the prejudices and stupidity his characters satirise had grown more pronounced. He pointed to social media and artificial intelligence. [1]