On Thursday, protesters disrupted the opening screening of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), chanting against the Royal Bank of Canada, the festival’s official partner bank.
The protest took place during the opening screening of David Gordon Green's film Nutcrackerstarring Ben Stiller, held at Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre prior to an opening screening held nearby, which the star attended.
What appeared to be four protesters chanted, “From Turtle Island to Palestine, RBC is funding genocide,” and held up banners declaring, “RBC is killing our future,” and calling for, “TIFF, cut ties with RBC.”
“In an act of solidarity with those fighting to address the climate emergency, as well as to end the war in Gaza and support indigenous sovereignty, filmmakers and film students have interrupted 'Nutcracker'”, the protesters later said in a statement.
“RBC's ongoing investments devastate the environment, trample on indigenous rights, and contribute to globally recognized war crimes. TIFF's continued partnership with the bank enables and legitimizes these destructive actions.” Protesters also called for peace and an end to violence in Gaza.
“The relationship between TIFF and RBC is a crime of artwashing that threatens both human life and the planet,” Elza Kephart, an organizer with 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 who profit from the destruction of our climate and our communities.”