Pro-Palestine Protesters Disrupt TIFF Opening Night

The opening night of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) was disrupted by pro-Palestine protesters who accused the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), the festival's official partner, of funding genocide related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The protest occurred during festival CEO Cameron Bailey's speech, with activists chanting 'Stop the genocide!' and holding banners denouncing RBC. The demonstration lasted approximately four minutes before security removed the protesters while the audience reacted with boos and hostility. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was present during the incident. The protest highlights growing tensions surrounding corporate sponsorships amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 40,000 Palestinians have reportedly died since the outbreak of violence. TIFF is set to run from September 5 to 15, showcasing various films despite last year's disruptions from strikes in the industry.