Pro-Palestinian Protesters Interrupt TIFF Opening Night Screening as Audience Boos and Chants ‘Go Home!’
variety.comEthan Shanfeld An opening night screening at the Toronto Film Festival was interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters rallying against the Royal Bank of Canada, which is the official bank partner of TIFF.
The four protesters entered the Princess of Wales Theatre ahead of the 6 p.m. showing of “Nutcrackers,” a dramedy starring Ben Stiller and directed by David Gordon Green, while chanting, “RBC funds genocide,” in an apparent reference to the bank’s ties to Israel, as the country’s war with Gaza enters its 11th month.
The protesters held signs with messages including “RBC is killing our future,” as seen in videos posted by New York Times reporter Kyle Buchanan.
The protesters were escorted out of the theater by security after about five minutes. As TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey continued through his opening remarks, ignoring the interruption, the audience seated for “Nutcrackers” booed the protesters and shouted back, “Go home!” and “Go away!” RBC said in a statement, “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.
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