Day 1: No Arms in the Arts Fest

10 days of actions, film screenings, and talks in Toronto

April 25, 2024

Join us for the No Arms in the Arts Festival, a 10-day counter-program to Hot Docs including actions, film screenings, and talks.

When our arts institutions commit to supporting Palestinian life, all of us will live better.

We are calling on Scotiabank to fully divest from Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems and for all cultural institutions receiving funding from the bank, including Hot Docs, CONTACT, and the Giller Prize, to end their complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. All events will be PWYC to decolonize our cultural sector and empower artists and arts workers from Turtle Island to Palestine!

Thursday, April 25, 6pm

Join us Thursday for a solidarity vigil for Palestine in Seaton Park, directly behind Hot Docs Cinema.

Remarks from members of Palestinian Youth Movement, University-Rosedale for Palestine, as well as filmmakers Ali Kazimi, John Greyson, and other. See Program Website for park accessibility info.

Friday, April 26, 7pm: Gaza: Between Images and Bodies

Gaza Death Tunnel (Mohamad Harb, 2013)

Poster pickup 6-7pm || Program courtesy Regards Palestiniens (Montreal) || Pay What You Can (*all funds raised will be donated to filmmaker Mohamad Harb) || See program website for venue accessibility info.

OUTSPOKEN? OUTSTANDING? OUTRAGEOUS. 

Demand that Scotiabank dump Elbit Systems.

Scotiabank conducts a great deal of its influence laundering via the arts in Canada and is a major presenting sponsor of Hot Docs Festival. Via its Scotia Global Asset Management arm, Scotiabank also has a $500 million dollar investment in Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest military and arms company. This active support in the ongoing genocide of Palestinian people is absolutely unacceptable. Turning a blind eye to Scotiabank’s investment is no longer an option, and doing so makes Hot Docs complicit in artwashing. This is NOT a call to boycott or withdraw from the festival. This is a call to use the festival to AMPLIFY a specific and achievable demand: SCOTIABANK, DUMP ELBIT. There must be NO ARMS IN THE ARTS.

Scotiabank needs to know that it cannot bank on genocide. Hot Docs needs to use its significant influence to echo the demands of its community, and pressure Scotiabank to divest from Elbit. Cultural institutions have power to enact change, if they want it.

If you are attending Hot Docs:

  • Speak out on stage, and during interviews. Keep the messaging clear and consistent: “Scotiabank has $500 Million invested in Israel’s largest arms manufacturer, Elbit Systems. Join me in demanding No Arms in the Arts, and that Scotiabank dump Elbit.”

  • Ask questions at screenings: “This is a question for Hot Docs as an institution – are you concerned that your presenting sponsor, Scotiabank, is the largest foreign investor in Elbit System weapons manufacturer?”

  • Chant “Scotia Banks on Genocide!” and boo when Scotiabank logos or ads appear before screenings

Check out the full 10-day NO ARMS IN THE ARTS Festival lineup!