TORONTO, Sept 13 (Askume) – Ukrainian Canadians protested at the Toronto International Film Festival on Friday after organisers reversed their decision to suspend the screening of a documentary about Russian troops in Ukraine that was criticised as propaganda.
Earlier this week, large numbers of protesters gathered outside a Toronto theatre to protest “The Russians at War” and demand that the Toronto International Film Festival remove the film from the festival.
TIFF organisers initially rejected their request, but on Thursday the festival said it was forced to halt the weekend’s planned screenings after realising the threat posed to festival operations and public safety.
“This is an unprecedented move for TIFF,” the organisers said in a statement. “We support civil dialogue, including across differences in opinions, about and through film, and we fully support peaceful assemblies.”
Russian-Canadian director and cinematographer Anastasia Trofimova created Russians at War based on footage she shot during seven months working alongside Russian soldiers near the front lines in Ukraine.
When asked about his reaction to the protests, he told Askume in an interview, “I know emotions are strong, but let’s watch the film.”
“I have not come here to be part of any war… I have seen enough wars.”
Trofimova denied Ukrainian critics’ accusations that her documentary was political propaganda. Instead, she said the film was shot without the permission of the Russian government, putting her at risk of criminal prosecution in Russia.
This documentary provides a raw and emotional look at the conflict from the unfiltered perspective of the soldiers fighting on the ground. As the war rages around them, they speak directly to the camera about fear, death, and hope.
Earlier this week, Ukrainian Consul General in Toronto Oleh Nikolayenko said the documentaryAn attempt to cover up war crimes committed by Russian forces since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine .
Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who is of Ukrainian descent, also condemned the film and its inclusion in TIFF.
Trofimova said it would be “wrong” and “irresponsible” for officials to comment on the film without seeing it.
After TIFF announced its decision to halt the screening, the film’s producers called on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to “conduct a full investigation, within a sovereign government, of this affront to our democratic values by independent media”.
Nikolayenko said that TIFF’s decision was “the only correct one” and that the organization would “continue to counter Russian disinformation.”
More than 100 protesters gathered on Friday, wearing traditional white clothing and carrying sunflowers, a symbol of peace and resilience.
