The scandalous film "Russians at War" will still be shown at TIFF
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is back in the spotlight due to its decision to screen the documentary Russians at War by Russian-Canadian director Anastasia Trofimova. Despite the closing of the festival on September 15, the organizers decided to screen the film on September 17, which has already caused heated discussions.
An unexpected turn of events
Last week, TIFF announced the cancellation of screenings due to security concerns, but tickets are now available. Toronto police said the decision was made without their recommendations. Screenings will take place at 8: 30 and 9: 00 p.m. Kyiv time.
Protests and public reaction
During the preliminary screening on September 10, Ukrainian civil society organizations organized a protest, which was attended by officials such as the Consul General of Ukraine in Canada Oleg Nikolenko. In his address to the general director of TIFF, he called the inclusion of this film in the program "irresponsible".
"The film deserves a place in the list of the festival's program, " the organizers said, but postponed screenings due to "significant threats to the festival's activities and public safety."
Historical context and expert reaction
The film "Russians at War" tells about the life of Russian soldiers in the occupied part of Ukraine, without showing the destruction and deaths. The director notes that she did not see war crimes during the filming. Daria Bassel, the programmer of the Docudays UA festival, called this film "high-quality Russian propaganda", which only seems to be anti-war.
Summary and forecast for the future
The screening of the film "Russians at War" at TIFF became the basis for numerous discussions and protests. Most critics believe that the film uses hidden propaganda, which can have a significant impact on the perception of the conflict in Ukraine. It is expected that this decision may affect the further reputation of the festival and cause new waves of protests.
Editor: Yana Davydiuk