Cannes to screen BBC's Nightmares

The documentary questions the threat of terrorism to the West

BBC documentary The Power of Nightmares is being turned into a feature film to be screened at Cannes' film festival.

The BBC Two series questioned whether the threat of terrorism to the West was a politically-driven fantasy, winning a Bafta TV award among other prizes.

Its three one-hour episodes are being edited into a single two-and-a-half hour movie by producer Adam Curtis after the festival asked to screen it.

"It's a wonderful honour and should win the show a wide audience," said Curtis.

'Powerful argument'

The Power of Nightmares will be shown out of competition at the prestigious film festival, which begins on 11 May.

Curtis said it had been "a bit tricky" to convert the series into a movie.

"If you spend six months making three films that you think have a coherent argument, you become convinced that there is nothing that can come out because it's all so wonderful," he said.

It has really touched a nerve with people who realise something is not quite right with the way terrorism has been reported Producer Adam Curtis

"But I think the new version works - it has been updated and it makes the argument more powerful."

Curtis said he could understand why the BBC was initially "worried" about broadcasting a series on such a controversial subject when it was initially shown in January.

"The BBC had the courage to put the series out and this shows they were right," he said.

"It has really touched a nerve with people who realise something is not quite right with the way terrorism has been reported."

He said the fact that the series has been made into a movie may encourage US distributors to screen it, after programme-makers failed to have the series shown on US television.

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith and Woody Allen's Match Point will also be shown out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival.