The opening night screening at the Toronto Film Festival was disrupted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators protesting against the Royal Bank of Canada, TIFF's official banking partner.
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The four protesters entered the Princess of Wales Theatre ahead of the 6 p.m. screening of “Nutcrackers,” a dramedy starring Ben Stiller and directed by David Gordon Green, chanting “RBC is funding genocide,” 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 such as “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 his opening statement, ignoring the interruption, the audience attending “Nutcrackers” booed the protesters, chanting back, “Go home!” and “Get out!”
