Clip from ‘Russian at War’. Photo by TIFF
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has decided to halt upcoming screenings of the documentary "Russians at War" due to serious threats to public safety and the festival’s operations. The film, which explores the experiences of Russian soldiers during the Ukraine conflict, was set to have its North American premiere on Friday, with additional showings planned over the weekend.
In a statement released Thursday, TIFF explained that while it supports open discussions and peaceful protests, the level of risk associated with the situation had become too severe. "Given the gravity of these concerns, we cannot proceed as planned," the statement read.
The documentary, a Canada-France collaboration, has sparked controversy among Ukrainian officials and community groups, who have labeled it as "Russian propaganda." TIFF, however, rejected these accusations, defending the film’s inclusion in the festival.
Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland criticized the use of public funds for the film, which received $340,000 through the Canada Media Fund and was co-produced with Ontario's public broadcaster TVO. Following backlash, TVO’s board pulled its support and canceled plans to air the documentary.
Despite these actions, TIFF maintained its stance, stating, "We believe this film deserves a place in our festival and are committed to showing it when it's safe." Toronto police confirmed that the decision to pause the screenings was made by TIFF and not based on police recommendations. They had planned to monitor the event to ensure public safety.
The film’s producers expressed disappointment at TIFF's decision, calling it "heartbreaking" and criticizing Canadian politicians and Ukrainian officials for inciting the reaction. In their statement, the producers said they had expected any potential threats to come from Russia, not within Canada.
"Russians at War," directed by Canadian-Russian filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova, documents the experiences of soldiers and medics during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Trofimova, who has described the film as antiwar, said her goal was to showcase a perspective not seen in mainstream Russian or Western media. She also stated that she opposes the war, calling Russia’s invasion "illegal and unjustified."
Trofimova and the film’s producers believe much of the criticism comes from individuals who haven’t seen the documentary. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress, which organized protests against the film, admitted its CEO hadn’t watched the film but claimed it was propaganda due to Trofimova’s past work with Russia Today, a state-run media outlet.
Despite the pause in screenings, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress has said it will still hold a peaceful protest against the film.
