Protestors disrupted a Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) opening night screening on Thursday. Their chants targeted Royal Bank of Canada, which is the official bank partner of the fest.
The protest occurred at a screening of David Gordon Green‘s opening movie Nutcrackers, starring Ben Stiller, held at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre ahead of a nearby opening screening attended by the star.
What appeared to be four protestors chanted “From Turtle Island to Palestine, RBC funds genocide” and raised banners declaring “RBC is killing our future” and urging: “TIFF, cut ties with RBC.”
“In an act of solidarity with those fighting to address the climate emergency, as well as end the war in Gaza, and support Indigenous sovereignty, filmmakers and film students disrupted ‘Nutcrackers,’” the protesters later said in a statement.
“RBC’s ongoing investments devastate the environment, trample Indigenous rights, and contribute to globally recognized war crimes. TIFF’s continued partnership with the bank enables and legitimizes these destructive actions.” The protestors also called for peace and an end to the violence in Gaza.
“TIFF’s relationship with RBC is art-washing crimes that threaten both human life and the planet,” Elza Kephart, an organizer for a group called RBC Off Screen said in a statement. “As film workers, we refuse to allow our industry to be co-opted by those profiting from the destruction of our climate and communities.”
