A well-attended and dignified protest was held in Toronto before the screening of Montreal director Zev Asher's Casuistry: The Killing of a Cat, writes Michael Dwyer in Toronto

The documentary deals with a Toronto animal cruelty case in which art student Jesse Power and two friends killed a cat. Power implausibly claimed his intention was to make a video that protested the unthinking consumption of factory- slaughtered animals by killing, cooking and eating a cherished domestic pet.

Responding to concerned emails and phone calls, festival co-director Noah Cowan issued a statement emphatically condemning the abuse and torture of animals: "The documentary has as its subject matter a sad and regrettable real-life incident that shocked and provoked strong feelings among many people. The documentary neither glorifies nor condones the torture of animals. It does not show any of the actual, graphic video footage from this criminal event. It does include interviews with those who were outraged by this event, including the detective who handled the case as well as committed animal-rights activists."

Although not invited by the festival, Power turned up for the screening and taunted the 100 or so protestors before being detained by police and cautioned for breach of the peace.