TIFF cinemagoers faint during screening of feminist cannibal film Raw

Paramedics were called to the scene of the film's Midnight Madness screening

Controversy struck Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) following a screening of feminist cannibal film Raw that saw several cinema-goers pass out.

Paramedics were called to the scene when the French-language film became 'too much' for a number of the film festival's attendees.

Audience member Ryan Werner, who works for Cinetic Media, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter, saying: "An ambulance had to be called to the scene as the film became too much for a couple patrons."

Raw, from debutant director Julie Ducournau, follows a vegetarian veterinary student who slowly turns to cannibalism. Ahead of its screening in the festival's Midnight Madness slot, Ducournau told IndieWire that she was excited to "hear this particular audience reacting."

The genre film was first shown at Cannes Film Festival in May where it went away with the FIPRESCI Critics' prize. It will next be shown at numerous other film festivals including Celluloid Screams and Beyond Fest.

Werner claimed that the only other film he has seen generate such a reaction in the festival's history is Lars Von Trier's controversial Antichrist in 2009.