As the 2022 in-person TIFF opened in Toronto on Thursday (September 8) the festival issued a statement following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
“We extend our sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her passing,” the statement read.
“As we prepare to welcome Canadians and international guests to the festival, we know that many will be deeply affected by her death. We keep her legacy in our memory.”
TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey tweeted about the monarch’s death earlier in the day – “We extend our sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her passing” – and said a few words at the opening night world premiere of Sally El Hosaini’s The Swimmers.
The Queen died on Thursday morning (September 8) at Balmoral Castle, aged 96 after doctors had placed her under medical supervision. She was the longest-serving British monarch and ruled for 70 years.
She was the monarch of the United Kingdom and 14 Commonwealth realms including Canada, where the monarch is the constitutional head of state. In 1957 the Queen opened a session of Canada’s parliament, becoming the first monarch to do so. She visited the country on several other occasions.
Flags were lowered and Toronto’s famous CN Tower went dark in a show of respect. Earlier in the day an emotional prime minister Justin Trudeau said, “In a complicated world, her steady grace and resolve brought comfort and strength to us all. Canada is in mourning.” He added Elizabeth II “was one of my favourite people in the world”.
The death of Elizabeth II made front page news in the country, however the institution of the monarchy itself remains a divisive subject.
Screen heard from passers-by on the streets of downtown Toronto on Thursday evening who hailed the Queen’s grace, wit and dutiful public service.
However others were quick to point out what they described as the outdated notion of the monarchy. One member of Toronto’s large South Asian diaspora who declined to give his name went further, saying: “The British rule in India was brutal.” The British ruled the sub-continent from 1858 until Indian independence in 1947.
For others the news compounded the lingering shock over the James Smith Cree Nation and Saskatchewan stabbing rampage on Sunday (September 4) that left 12 dead and a further 18 injured.
Separately, TIFF has told press it was rectifying problems with its overloaded TIFF Ticketmaster site, which caused difficulties for people trying to redeem tickets for the opening night screening and has irritated press and industry over the past two days. The festival runs through September 18.
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