R avi Srinivasan, who championed filmmakers and inclusivity as a senior programmer at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and executive director of the South Western International Film Festival (SWIFF), has died.

Srinivasan died suddenly in his home in Toronto on Saturday (Jan. 14), his longtime friend and organizer of the GoFundMe page for his funeral and memorial services, David Hunter, tells Playback Daily. He was 37. A cause of death was not confirmed as of press time.

Born and raised in Sarnia, Ont., Srinivasan studied film and English literature at Ontario’s Wilfrid Laurier University and then film production at Sheridan College. He first joined TIFF in 2013 as a festival programming associate and went on to become programmer for Canadian and international feature films, and then senior manager of programming for feature films from South Asia, the Philippines, and Canada.

“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,” said TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey in a statement.

Bailey added that Srinivasan’s “deep knowledge of cinema and his passion for film as an inclusive art form helped transform film culture in Canada. For Ravi, who drew on both his Filipino and his Indian immigrant heritage in his work, representation always mattered. It was built into how he viewed films, and how he invited all audiences to engage with the stories on screen that moved them.”

Prior to TIFF, Srinivasan was the international programmer at Hot Docs and the senior programmer of Reel Canada’s National Canadian Film Day. In 2014, he founded SWIFF in Sarnia, which spotlighted “new voices, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ perspectives, and unique stories that engage Southwest Ontario’s growing thirst for art and culture,” according to the festival’s website.

“A sad, terrible loss for the industry and for the world. Ravi was a light, and his love for filmmakers and their work was limitless. Heartbreaking,” said Hot Docs programming director Shane Smith in a tweet that was posted on Sunday (Jan. 15).

Srinivasan was described by Telefilm in a tweet posted on Monday (Jan. 16) as a “pillar in the industry” who inspired young Canadians through educational talks. His “dedication to inclusivity will leave a lasting impact,” added the tweet.

The GoFundMe for Srinivasan’s funeral and memorial said “his passing was completely unexpected,” adding that he “was an amazing young man who lived his life to the fullest. His smile was infectious and his laugh could fill any room. Words can’t describe the pain his brother Hari and his family are feeling right now.”

Image courtesy of TIFF