Protesters disrupt Toronto Film Festival screening amid RBC controversy

Protesters disrupted a screening at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on opening night, criticizing the Royal Bank of Canada's (RBC) ties to Israel amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The protesters, who entered the Princess of Wales Theatre ahead of the 6 p.m. showing of "Nutcrackers," chanted "RBC funds genocide" and held signs with messages including "RBC is killing our future."

The protesters were escorted out of the theater by security after about five minutes. The audience, seated for "Nutcrackers," booed the protesters and shouted back, "Go home!" and "Go away!" TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey continued through his opening remarks, ignoring the interruption.

RBC responded to the incident, stating, "We respect 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." The bank also expressed its concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Israel and Gaza, stating that it continues to hear from employees, clients, and community members who are affected.

This is not the first time that RBC's involvement at TIFF has caused controversy. Last year, a group of Canadian filmmakers and Hollywood stars urged the festival to cut its ties with RBC due to its funding of the oil and gas industry. The campaign, called RBC Off Screen, framed the protest as "an act of solidarity with those fighting to address the climate emergency, as well as end the war in Gaza, and support Indigenous sovereignty."

TIFF will officially kick off its 49th edition at 8 p.m. with the official world premiere of "Nutcrackers." The festival will run from September 5-15, featuring a range of films including "Eden," "Nightbitch," "The Wild Robot," and "We Live in Time."