TIFF kicked off with plenty of fanfare on Thursday, as red carpets rolled out and films began to play. However, protesters were on scene at The Princess of Wales Theatre Thursday evening, calling for the festival to cut ties with one of their major sponsors during a screening of the new Ben Stiller film Nutcrackers.
During the screening, a group of protesters walked through the theatre, holding signs and calling for the Toronto organization to cut ties with festival sponsor Royal Bank of Canada (RBC).
The organization RBC Off Screen took credit for the protest in a post on Instagram.
“As filmmakers and film workers, we refuse to allow our industry to be co-opted by a bank profiting from the destruction of our climate and communities,” the group wrote on Thursday.
“We demand that @tiff_net cut ties with the Royal Bank of Canada, Canada’s largest funder of fossil fuels and a major Canadian funder of the weapons manufacturers who are arming Israel. TIFF has a moral obligation to sever relationships with companies that violate human rights and profit from climate chaos, ecocide, and genocide.”
The post includes a clip where protesters can be heard voicing their concerns about RBC.
“Cameron Bailey you can’t hide, RBC funds genocide,” the protesters can be heard chanting, directing their calls to the festival’s CEO.
“We’re here as film students outraged that TIFF is taking money from RBC, complicit in settler genocide,” a protester can be heard saying.
In another video posted to X by New York Times reporter Kyle Buchanan, Bailey can be heard addressing the protesters.
“We appreciate and we defend freedom of speech, but we are here to start the festival,” Bailey told protesters from the stage.
According to reports, the protesters were led out of the theatre by security after a few minutes.
Now Toronto reached out to TIFF for comment but did not receive a response in time of publication.
RBC RESPONDS TO TIFF PROTEST
Following the incident, RBC said it respects the right of individuals to make their voices heard.
“But it’s unfortunate to see activist groups attempting to co-opt this important cultural event. Protestors targeting corporate sponsors are shifting attention from the work of artists and weakening support for essential arts and cultural programs,” RBC said in a statement to Now Toronto on Friday.
“The humanitarian crisis in Israel and Gaza continues to have a devastating impact and we feel deeply for everyone who is affected. We continue to hear from employees, clients and community members, and we know this is difficult for anyone with ties to the region.”
MIXED REACTIONS TO PROTEST
In another video posted by Buchanan, the crowd in attendance at the screening can be heard booing the protesters.
People have taken to the internet to share their thoughts on the incident.
“You’re making lots of friends with this. I’m sure everyone will want to climb on board with you now,” another person sarcastically commented.
“Best they get used to people protesting and demanding accountability because until people are accountable, the protest is going to be more widespread and reach them in more places,” wrote one X user.
“Bravo to these brave truth-tellers standing up for justice!” someone commented on Instagram.
This isn’t the first time RBC Off Screen has called for TIFF to end its sponsorship deal with RBC. During TIFF 2023, the group wrote an open letter to the organization calling for them to reconsider the partnership due to the Canadian bank’s involvement in the oil and gas field. The letter gained the signatures of celebrities, including Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo and Joaquin Phoenix.
