(Toronto) A group of Canadian filmmakers has joined forces with Hollywood stars to call on the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to end its sponsorship with the Royal Bank of Canada over the latter’s funding of the oil and gas industry.
Organizers of the campaign called “RBC Off Screen” say the financial institution’s track record of investing in fossil fuels goes against the socially progressive values the film festival claims to uphold.
Among the signatories to the group’s open letter to TIFF raising concerns are big screen stars Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams and Joaquin Phoenix, alongside filmmakers and producers including Avi Lewis, Elza Kephart and Jose Luis Gutierrez.
Mme Kephart and Mr. Gutierrez launched the campaign, and they say they have the support of more than 200 industry workers. The group’s statement argues that the Royal Bank is one of the largest financiers of oil and gas projects in the world and finances projects that have negatively impacted Indigenous lands and Indigenous, Black and People of Color groups.
TIFF vice president of public relations Judy Lung said in a statement that the festival was sensitive to the sustainability concerns raised and was speaking to the Royal Bank about them.
Bank spokeswoman Stephanie Bannan said in a statement that more action was needed to combat climate change and that the company welcomed the opportunity to discuss these issues with indigenous groups and the film community.