TORONTO โ Pro-Israel organisations raised alarm on Saturday after pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered on Festival Street during the Toronto International Film Festival, and social media posts circulated alleging that pro-Hamas imagery was projected onto downtown surfaces while the festival was underway.
The demonstrations came amid a wider TIFF controversy over programming decisions relating to films about October 7, 2023, and its aftermath. TIFF temporarily withdrew and then reinstated a documentary about rescue efforts during the October 7 attacks after public criticism and legal concerns about footage rights.
The Canadian Press reported that pro-Palestinian protesters staged a small rally on Festival Street as attendees arrived for premieres. Police said roughly a dozen protesters were present and that they dispersed on their own. Organisers said they took steps to protect attendees and staff.
Pro-Israel advocacy groups and community accounts posted images and short videos on X and Instagram alleging that hours earlier, pro-Hamas slogans and imagery had been projected on walls in the downtown core.
Hamas loyalists projected their propaganda on the walls in downtown Toronto while @TOfilmfest festivities were under way.
— Leviathan (@l3v1at4an) September 7, 2025
Looks like advertising is free on @cityoftoronto infrastructure as long as itโs in the name of Palestine. pic.twitter.com/BGbLqBaUor
Creative Community For Peace described the amount of anti-Israel material at the festival as โstaggeringโ and urged festival organisers to address the issue. Those posts were widely shared by Jewish community networks.
Festival officials have emphasised safety and legal compliance in programming decisions and said they are monitoring protests. TIFF said it seeks to host films that provoke discussion while ensuring the safety of guests and the public.
Festival representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment about specific projection reports.
For many in the Jewish and pro-Israel community, the reports recalled wider concerns about the public glorification of terror and about the safety and dignity of Jewish audiences. Community leaders said artistic venues must not become platforms for celebrating or normalising violence against Jews. They urged local authorities and festival management to take firm steps to prevent similar displays.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators said their actions were intended to protest what they described as TIFFโs role in platforming films that normalise Israeli actions in Gaza. Protesters invoked humanitarian concerns and restrictions on Gaza in their statements to the media.
The episode underscores tensions facing large cultural events as they intersect with the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Festival organisers and civic authorities face competing obligations: to protect free expression, to ensure public safety, and to guard against displays that community groups say cross the line into the glorification of terrorism.
This article is based on verified information from The Canadian Press, the Associated Press, Reuters coverage of TIFF programming and protests, Creative Community For Peace social media posts, and local reporting on Festival Street demonstrations.