A frisk, an electronic scan, and what appeared to be mysterious cameramen hidden behind a curtain-it sounds like the start of the next Pink Panther movie. Instead, it's what a Vancouver International Film Festival audience endured when attending a screening of Warner Bros.' pre-released film Kiss Kiss Bang Bang at the Vogue Theatre on October 9.

One fan left the screening pissed-off and feeling as though his right to privacy had been violated. "I've been going to the festival for 12 years, and nothing like this has ever happened before," Vancouver Film School instructor Mark Busse told the Straight. "I am a movie lover simply attending a VIFF screening, yet here I was being treated like a potential assassin attending a speech by George Bush."

Busse said there were no signs or announcements that might have explained the security measures. During the screening, he complained to the manager of the Vogue about being filmed. Then the people who appeared to be filming disappeared.

In fact, what looked like cameras were devices for spotting audience members who might be using electronic recording devices. Because of the digital-pirating industry, festival director Alan Franey told the Straight, heavy security is a new reality.

"Studios are extremely concerned about piracy; they're much more restrictive than they used to be," said Franey. Signs were posted explaining the measures, he added, though he admits the festival could have done more to ensure audience members were aware of the procedures.

Privacy lawyer Clark Ledingham told the Straight that if the audience was filmed without its knowledge, that would be "bad privacy policy". However, it would still be legal. The theatre is considered public space, even during a festival.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang will be released in theatres November 11. It's common for studios to prerelease films at festivals to create buzz.

Busse believes that if this kind of security is here to stay, the big studios should no longer be invited. "We're here to promote film, not Hollywood," he said.