Ravi Srinivasan, the senior manager of festival programming at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), died suddenly over the weekend of January 14, 2023. He was 37 years old. His death has shocked and saddened the film industry, especially the Canadian film community, which he championed passionately and tirelessly. But how did Ravi Srinivasan die? And what was his legacy as a film programmer and advocate?
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The Cause of Death: A Brain Aneurysm
According to The Globe and Mail, Ravi Srinivasan died at home of a brain aneurysm, a condition where a blood vessel in the brain bursts and causes bleeding. A brain aneurysm can be fatal if not treated quickly, and can cause symptoms such as severe headache, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and loss of consciousness. However, some people may not have any symptoms at all until the aneurysm ruptures.
The exact cause of a brain aneurysm is not known, but some factors that may increase the risk include high blood pressure, smoking, family history, age, and gender. Women are more likely than men to develop a brain aneurysm, and people over 40 are more at risk than younger people.
The Legacy: A Passionate and Generous Film Programmer
Ravi Srinivasan was born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario, with Indian and Filipino cultural roots. He studied film and English literature at Wilfrid Laurier University and film production at Sheridan College. He began his career as a film programmer in 2010, when he joined REEL CANADA, a non-profit organization that promotes Canadian films in schools and communities across the country.
In 2013, he became part of the TIFF programming team, where he focused on presenting feature films from South Asia, the Philippines, and Canada. He was also an international programmer at Hot Docs, the founder and executive director of the South Western International Film Festival (SWIFF) in his hometown of Sarnia, and the senior programmer of National Canadian Film Day.
Ravi Srinivasan was known for his deep knowledge of cinema and his passion for film as an inclusive art form. He embraced films from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and advocated for filmmakers from underrepresented communities. He also had a keen eye for discovering new talents and supporting emerging voices in the film industry.
He was also known for his sense of humor and his generosity to all. He was a mentor and a friend to many filmmakers, programmers, critics, and audiences. He was always willing to share his insights, opinions, and recommendations on films. He was also a fun-loving person who enjoyed music, sports, travel, and food.
The Tributes: An Outpouring of Grief and Gratitude
The news of Ravi Srinivasan’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief and gratitude from the film industry and beyond. Many people have expressed their condolences and shared their memories of him on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey tweeted: “We are saddened and shocked to learn of the sudden passing of our colleague and friend Ravi Srinivasan. As a programmer, champion for filmmakers, and director of his own hometown film festival in Sarnia, Ontario, Ravi was known to many for his passion, his generosity and the joy he brought to cinema.”
Nisha Pahuja, director of Hot Docs and Tribeca-winning “The World Before Her” tweeted: “Utterly gutted… RIP Ravi. You will be missed.”
REEL CANADA tweeted: “The entire REEL CANADA team is devastated to learn of the sudden passing of our friend and colleague Ravi Srinivasan. From the time Ravi started working with us over a decade ago, we knew he was a force to be reckoned with.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise funds for his funeral and memorial expenses. The page has already surpassed its goal of CAD75,000 ($56,000), showing the immense love and respect that people have for him.
Ravi Srinivasan was a remarkable person who left a huge hole in Canadian film. He will be remembered for his contributions to the film culture in Canada and beyond. He will be missed by many who knew him personally or professionally. He will be celebrated for his passion, compassion, and joy that he brought to cinema.
